Education Secretary DeVos faces largely
silent protest at Harvard speech
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[September 29, 2017]
By Scott Malone
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Reuters) - U.S. Education
Secretary Betsy DeVos was confronted by largely silent protesters
holding signs opposing the Trump administration's promotion of
for-profit schools and changes to how colleges handle sex assault
allegations at a speech at Harvard University on Thursday.
DeVos ignored the protesters, but took questions from audience members
on issues, including a White House move to reverse Obama-era guidance on
how colleges should handle allegations of sexual assault on campus.
"One sexual assault is one too many, but by the same token, one that is
denied due process is one too many," DeVos said. "So we need to be sure
that policy is fair to all students."
More than a dozen protesters stood in the crowd holding signs reading
"protect survivors," and "our students are not 4 sale." Many others
stood or sat with raised fists.
As the event wrapped up and DeVos headed for the exit, the crowd broke
into loud chants, including: "This is what white supremacy looks like!"
The administration last week reversed guidelines established under
former President Barack Obama on how colleges should handle sexual
assault allegations, saying the prior policies led to too many students
being falsely charged and disciplined.
The prior rules outlined a strict set of steps for schools to follow or
risk losing funding under Title IX, the federal law that bars sex
discrimination in education. Opponents of those rules said that they
allowed schools to use lower standards of evidence of those followed in
criminal proceedings.
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A protester holds up a fist as U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos
(R) speaks with moderator Paul E. Peterson, Director of the Program
on Education Policy and Governance, at Harvard University's Kennedy
School of Government in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., September
28, 2017. REUTERS/Mary Schwalm
While the cheers and jeers of protesters gathered outside the venue
could faintly heard as DeVos spoke, the event avoided the scenes of
students shouting down conservative speakers seen at universities
around the United States over the past year. That trend that has
drawn the scrutiny of the Justice Department.
Several activists also expressed concern that the administration's
support of shifting funding from public schools to charter, private
and for-profit schools would hurt low-income and minority
communities.
"If you are trying to help a community, first you need to listen to
what they need," said Latoya Gayle, a mother of three. "If she
listened more, I think she would hear that what people need is not
what she thinks they need."
DeVos, a billionaire who has drawn fire for her advocacy of
for-profit schools, is married to the heir and former chief
executive of Amway. She was confirmed in February when Vice
President Mike Pence cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate.
(Reporting by Scott Malone; editing by David Gregorio, G Crosse)
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