I analyzed my most of my Title IX experiences at ECSU in this 33-page ethics case study paper (⚠️⚠️ Caution: Sensitive Material Within – Reader Discretion is Advised ⚠️⚠️) I wrote while at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), where I was a student in the Student Development in Higher Education master\’s program.
I turned this paper in on October 23, 2025, and I withdrew from CCSU on November 5, 2025, when it was still ungraded. With the paper remaining ungraded for this extended period of time, I feared my academic reputation would be ruined, compounding my trauma even further.
In the paper, I examine two scenarios using the CAS Standards Statement of Shared Ethical Principles for Student Services in Higher Education: (1) the risk mitigation path, and (2) the trauma-informed path.
By now, you know ECSU took the former path with me, leaving me homeless and finding it difficult to obtain another job in higher education. The paper uses pseudonyms to protect the identities of all involved officials, while still outlining the institution’s administrative and ethical failures.
If someone in Connecticut publicly alleges that they were sexually assaulted, they are legally protected from being sued for it. If the alleged harasser sues the accuser, the accuser can ask the court to dismiss the charges and collect court costs. Please see the below paragraph, “Reminder to Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) System Regarding SLAPPs,” for more precise language.
Please note that under Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) §52-196a, defendants are legally protected from Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) in response to an accusation of sexual assault, which are matters of public concern. Furthermore, pursuant to C.G.S. §52-196a(f)(1), “if the court grants a special motion to dismiss under this section, the court shall award the moving party costs and reasonable attorney\’s fees, including such costs and fees incurred in connection with the filing of the special motion to dismiss.”
References:
- Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) §52-196a – Please click here to see the exact Connecticut Statute that protects litigants from SLAPPs.
- Please click here to see Connecticut Public Act 25-77, which explains the addition of sexual assault to Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) §52-196a.
- Specifically, on page 1, “…(B) written communication made by an individual, without actual malice, concerning the alleged commission of a crime…” is considered free speech.
As always, thank you for taking the time to hear my story. I believe that together, we can cultivate a veracious (truthful), just, and accountable higher education culture that values trauma-informed practices.
~ Demitric