Iowa State Has Spent More Than This on Three Title IX Lawsuits. 50,000 by K.RAMBO @Iowastatedaily.Com 40,000 Complaint Summaries 30,000 Niesen V
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Iowa State Daily, February 2018 Iowa State Daily, 2018 2-16-2018 Iowa State Daily (February 16, 2018) Iowa State Daily Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/iowastatedaily_2018-02 Recommended Citation Iowa State Daily, "Iowa State Daily (February 16, 2018)" (2018). Iowa State Daily, February 2018. 9. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/iowastatedaily_2018-02/9 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State Daily, 2018 at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Iowa State Daily, February 2018 by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 02.16.2018 No. 102 Vol 217 An Iowa State Daily Investigation 80,000 70,000 $120,325 60,000 Iowa State has spent more than this on three Title IX lawsuits. 50,000 BY K.RAMBO @iowastatedaily.com 40,000 Complaint Summaries 30,000 Niesen v. ISU Taylor Niesen, a former Iowa State student, alleges that 20,000 Iowa State violated Title IX by displaying deliberate indi erence to the amount of sexual assaults in Greek residences after Niesen was sexually assaulted in a fraternity house in January 2015. Niesen took a rape kit AMOUNT SPENT ON CASES ($) 10,000 the following day, which came back positive in the early months of 2016. The university was noti ed of the re- sults and elected not to remove her assailant, according 0 to court documents. She also claims she was subjected NIESEN V. ISU MAHER V. ISU KELLEY V. ISU to extensive harassment and humiliation from the Greek TITLE IX CASES community following her reporting of the assault. Maher v. ISU Melissa Maher, a former Iowa State student, alleges The Costs Contract Confusion that Iowa State violated Title IX by displaying deliberate indi erence in response to her sexual assault by Patrick Iowa State has paid $120,325 to a private law rm to provide State entities such as Iowa State are not allowed to hire Whetstone and that the response was unreasonable. legal assistance on three Title IX cases, $22,624 of which may and pay private attorneys for legal assistance in pending Maher found after reporting the sexual assault, before have been spent without proper legal authorization. litigation without authorization from the executive council, Whetstone was convicted, that her apartment entrance e money was paid to Husch Blackwell, a corporate law which is composed of the Iowa governor, secretary of state, was 150 feet from Whetstone’s in Frederiksen Court. rm from Kansas City, Missouri, to defend Iowa State in three treasurer, secretary of agriculture and state auditor. According to the lawsuit, Maher frequently saw her Title IX cases that pertained to sexual misconduct, and, in one e attorney general is required to provide a written jus- attacker, even unintentionally riding the same bus to class case, racial discrimination. ti cation to the executive council as to why attorneys with as Whetstone. Maher asked the university that Whetstone e funds, paid from July 2017 through Jan. 18, 2018, came the state entity are unable to perform the service, according be removed, or she be provided with alternative housing. out of the general university budget, Iowa State Chief Counsel to Iowa Code 13.7. e executive council then approves Maher said the university o ered her temporary housing Michael Norton said. In scal year 2016, which is the most or denies the request based on the information provided. in a hotel above the MU — which she would have for recent nal university budget, 58.9 percent of that fund was e executive council approved the university’s use of approximately two weeks — emergency solo housing or from student tuition. Husch Blackwell for “advice and representation, with space in a converted den with several students she did e total spent on each lawsuit will increase, Norton said, respect to Title IX litigation and compliance manners” on not know. Maher said she felt unsafe about sharing living because two of the three cases are ongoing. Niesen v. ISU and Sept. 11, 2017. space with strangers after she had been assaulted. Kelley v. ISU are still in the pre-trial stage, and Maher v. ISU Invoices show, however, that Husch Blackwell began had not been dismissed when the Iowa State Daily submitted billing Iowa State for “professional services” in the Niesen Kelley v. ISU its request for records. v. ISU case on June 2, 2017, before that approval. Invoices Robinette Kelley, the former Equal Opportunity Former student Melissa Maher’s case against Iowa State was show $13,673 accrued in the Niesen case between June 2 Director and Title IX Coordinator, alleges that Iowa dismissed Tuesday by Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Helen Ad- and Sept. 11. State did not give Kelley the authority that Title IX ams, who granted Iowa State’s motion for summary judgment. Husch Blackwell began billing Iowa State in the Maher dictates to investigate sex discrimination and sexual As of Jan. 18, the university had paid Husch Blackwell v. ISU case on Sept. 1, 2017, 10 days before approval came misconduct at Iowa State. Kelley said that Iowa State $71,566.34 on that case. While the totals may have increased from the executive council for Husch Blackwell to provide did not properly fund or sta her o ce, according to in each case since Jan. 18, Maher’s case was the most costly legal assistance related to Title IX litigation. In the Maher court documents. Kelley alleges that Iowa State limited when the Iowa State Daily submitted its request for records. v. ISU case, charges of $8,951 were incurred before Sept. her access to information regarding sexual assaults in e second most costly case at the time the records request 11, 2017. Greek houses and the Greek Life student population. was submitted was former student Taylor Niesen v. ISU at In total, Husch Blackwell billed Iowa State between Kelley said she was not allowed to properly respond to $25,495, according to invoices. June 2 and Sept. 11 for $22,624, according to invoices instances of sexual misconduct and provide adequate Iowa State paid the law firm $23,263 for the third case, from Husch Blackwell. resources to victims. Kelley’s lawsuit alleges that Robinette Kelley v. ISU, according to invoices. Kelley is the Norton said that any amounts billed by Husch Blackwell she immediately noticed wwTitle IX violations after former equal opportunity director and Title IX director at Iowa before the Sept. 11 approval by the executive council would being hired by Iowa State. Kelley said she was told to State. Kelley alleges she was unable to perform her job and was have been covered by a contract with Husch Blackwell reduce her e orts to comply with Title IX. Kelley also subject to discrimination as a woman of color. entered into on Dec. 15, 2016. said she faced retaliation from the university when at agreement was to provide Title IX training and Fair she attempted to point out Title IX violations. Kelley Labor Standards Act (FLSA) training to sta , Norton said. was treated di erently and discriminated against WHAT IS TITLE IX? “I don’t dictate how they designate what [Husch Black- because she is a woman of color, adding that women well is] going to put on the bill in terms of how they deter- of color were often hired to be seen and not heard Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972: “No per- mine their matter, but the questions that we had of them as leaders, Kelley alleged in the court documents. son in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be ex- were far broader than just the Niesen case,” Norton said. Kelley is claiming wrongful termination on the cluded from participation in, be denied the bene ts of, Redactions in the documents do not allow the Iowa grounds of retaliation, while white male colleagues or be subjected to discrimination under any education State Daily to con rm this, but an invoice was sent to Iowa who perpetrated sexual discrimination were o ered program or activity receiving federal nancial assistance.” buyouts and large severance packages. TITLE IX PG8 02 NEWS Iowa State Daily Friday, February 16, 2018 STUDENT LIFE DINEH BOHAN/ IOWA STATE DAILY Students perform during the Chinese Spring Festival Gala. The festivities celebrated the Chinese New Year. Students to celebrate Lunar New Year BY MIA.WANG Lunar New Year is one of the biggest China. @iowastatedaily.com holidays in several Asian countries. “On Lunar New Year’s Eve, all male CHINESE ZODIAC Unlike most Western holidays, the members of my family would bring Lunar New Year’s date varies every firecrackers and paper money to a high Rat: 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960 year, because it’s based on the lu- hill. We stand facing the direction of nar calendar, meaning the dates are Ox: 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961 our ancestral grave and light the fire- Tiger: 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962 based on the monthly cycles of the crackers, also burn the paper money,” moon’s phases. Meng said. “The reason behind this Rabbit: 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963 tradition is we need to invite our de- Dragon: 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964 The initial concept of the Lunar ceased family members back home to Snake: 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965 New Year came from agriculture; the celebrate this important holiday with Horse: 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966 ancient people called the crop’s growth us. Going uphill, lighting firecrackers Goat: 2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967 cycle “year.” In the Xia dynasty (2027 will bring their spirits back.” Monkey: 2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968 BC- 1600 BC), people started to have This year is Meng’s first Lunar New the “month” concept based on moon Year outside his home country.