“Before the Obama administration instructed colleges and universities that they had to take sexual-assault allegations seriously—or risk losing federal funds—the system was way too disposed to discourage complaints,” wrote Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus. “But the Obama administration’s move also prompted an overcorrection at some institutions that failed to do enough to protect the rights of students accused of wrongdoing.”

(WNS)–Education Secretary Betsy DeVos announced last week plans to scrap Obama-era rules for colleges and universities dealing with sexual assault claims on campus. She plans to replace the old guidance with a new policy, written with input from administrators and victims’ advocates and adopted only after the standard public comment process.

The DeVos announcement did not come as any surprise, and neither did most of the reactions. Detractors said she would make it easier for men to prey on women and get away with it. One community college professor even suggested on Twitter he wouldn’t mind seeing DeVos assaulted—so she would have more empathy for victims.

“Don’t be duped by today’s announcement. What seems merely procedural is a blunt attack on survivors of sexual assault,” Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women’s Law Center, said in a statement. “It will discourage schools from taking steps to comply with the law—just at the moment when they are finally working to get it right. And it sends a frightening message to all students: Your government does not have your back if your rights are violated.”

But other DeVos critics greeted the announcement with cautious optimism.

“Before the Obama administration instructed colleges and universities that they had to take sexual-assault allegations seriously—or risk losing federal funds—the system was way too disposed to discourage complaints,” wrote Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus. “But the Obama administration’s move also prompted an overcorrection at some institutions that failed to do enough to protect the rights of students accused of wrongdoing.”

Obama’s Title IX policy might have as many critics as DeVos’. But if she can write a new policy that gives both victims and accused perpetrators hope for justice, she could find herself with more friends than enemies (and possibly fewer Twitter trolls).

© 2017 World News Service. Used with permission.