July 21, 2019 Dear Cleveland Office for Civil Rights:
Ohio State University (OSU) is a public university that receives federal financial assistance and is therefore required to enforce Title IX laws that prohibit sex discrimination, including sex discrimination against both females and males. Because
the Cleveland OCR’s jurisdiction area covers universities in the state of Ohio, I am
requesting your office investigate OSU for illegal sex discrimination in violation of Title IX.
Specifically, OSU sponsors, promotes, organizes, funds, operates and hosts at least nine single-gender, female-only, no males allowed programs that illegally discriminate based on sex including the following:
1. OSU’s
Summer Engineering Camp for Middle School Girls is a discriminatory single-
gender, girl-
only program that “provides an opportunity for
middle school girls [only]
to participate in hand-on projects to broade
n their knowledge and skills.” Eligibility is discriminatory and restricted to “Any
middle school girl
interested in
engineering and related fields.” Obviously, middle school boys are being illegally excluded from this program in violation of Title IX’s pr
ohibition of sex discrimination
and in violation of OSU’s non
-discrimination policy. Further, OSU does not offer an
equivalent “Summer Engineering Camp for Middle School Boys” to accommodate both
genders and comply with Title IX.
2. OSU’s 2019
Data Science for Women Summer Camp is a discriminatory single-
gender, girl-
only “free summer camp that introduces
35 young women in grades 8-10
to data science and analytics.” Eligibility is discriminatory and restricted to “
Young women
who attend schools in Franklin County and will be entering grades 8, 9, or 10 in
autumn 2019.” Obviously, young men who attend schools
in Franklin County and will be entering grades 8, 9, or 10 in autumn 2019 are being illegally excluded from this
program, and OSU’s offers no “Data Science for Men Summer Camp” to accommodate all students of all/both genders and comply with Title IX’s prohibition of sex discrimination. Further this program violates OSU’s stated commitment t
o not discriminate based on sex in its programs and activities including summer camps.
3. OSU’s
Women in Engineering is a single-gender, female-only, no-men allowed
(Undergraduate & Graduate).” Male students at OSU are obviously excluded
from this educational program and are being excluded in violation of Title IX. Further, there is no
equivalent “Men in Engineering” that would equitably and inclusively accommodate and
serve male engineering students in the same way that OSU currently accommodates and serves female engineering students with campus resources that are not available to male students.
4. OSU’s
Women in Engineering Learning Community (WiE LC) is a discriminatory
single-gender, female-only, no-males allowed program offered exclusively only to
OSU women
with no equivalent program such as “Men in Engineering Learning Community” (MiE LC). By discriminating based on sex, this program violates Title IX and OSU’s policy of non
-discrimination.
5. OSU’s
Critical Difference for Women Re-entry Scholarships is a single-gender,
female-only that excludes and discriminates against men by exclusively offering
“scholarships
for women [only]
who have interrupted their education.” Men who have
interrupted their education (e.g., for military service) are not eligible to apply for these scholarships in violation of Title IX. Further there is no equivalent student financial aid
such as “Men Re
-
entry Scholarships” that would equitably and inclusively accommodate
all OSU students who have interrupted their education for military service or other reasons.
6. OSU’s
Critical Difference Development Grants for Women are three discriminatory
single-gender, female-only, no-
men allowed grants “offered to facilitate professional
development and career mobility of
women faculty, staff, and students [only].
The three types of Development Grants are: a) Professional Development, b) Women of Color Advancement Grants and c) Marianna Russell Technology Grant (for
women who are in or are going into technology fields).” By excluding male faculty, staff
and students at OSU from applying for these grants, these campus resources unfairly and illegally discriminate based on sex, in violation of both Title IX. No equivalent grants are being offered on a male-only basis.
7. OSU’s
Mary Ann Williams Woman's Leadership Award is a discriminatory single-
gender, female-only, no-
men allowed award that “annually recognizes a
university woman
who exhibits a special kind of leadership.” Excluding uni
versity men from applying for this award illegally discriminates based on sex in violation of Title IX. There
is no equivalent “Men’s Leadership Award” to offset this award and fairly, legally and
equitably accommodate all university employees.
8. OSU’s
Ruthmarie Mitsch Professional Development Award is a discriminatory single-
gender, female-
only, no men allowed award restricted to “Association of Staff and
Faculty
Women
members wanting to further their career goals and professional
development.” By excluding and discriminating against staff and faculty men this award violates Title IX’s prohibition of sex discrimination. There is no male
-only equivalent award at OSU that would accommodate all genders and comply with Title IX.
9. OSU’s
Dr. Patricia Cunningham II Commitment to Service Award is a discriminatory
single-gender, female-only, no-
males allowed award that “
annually recognizes a university
woman
who impacts the community through dedicated service.” Excluding
university men from this award violates their legally guaranteed civil rights, violates
Title XI’s prohibition of sex discrimination, and violates OSU’s
stated policy of non-discrimination. There is no equivalent OSU award that annually recognizes a university man who impacts the community through dedicated service that would bring OSU into compliance with Title IX.