(Image via ed.gov)

Staff Writer: Kyle Dietzsch

Email: kdietzsch@umassd.edu 

Content Warning: This article contains content related to sexual assault and impacts on LGBTQ+ rights.

Since Donald Trump’s second term as President began in 2025, America’s longstanding education policies have been the subject of near-constant debate and revision. The upheaval has ranged from funding cuts for universities and constant legal battles to the current administration effectively trying to shut down the Department of Education by offloading its responsibilities to other agencies. 

In this constantly shifting environment, it’s hard to keep up with policy changes and their implications. One recent change, though, will be particularly troubling for a number of UMass Dartmouth students. 

On September 28th, 2026, the Department of Education, led by its Secretary Linda McMahon, announced that it would be formally undoing changes made to the Title IX law under the Biden Administration. Previously, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits schools from discriminating “on the basis of sex” was interpreted to include protection from gender identity or sexuality-based discrimination. 

The Trump Administration’s interpretation, however, is markedly different. The current government no longer recognizes protections for LGBTQ+ students under Title IX. In their September 28th press release, the Department of Education said it would be “returning enforcement to biological reality,” a policy in line with Trump’s controversial view that “there are only two genders.” 

It should be made clear that, under Massachusetts Law, it’s explicitly illegal for educational institutions to discriminate against LGBTQ+ students for their identity or orientation. UMass Dartmouth offers resources for any victims of discrimination, sexual harassment and sexual assault through the Center for Women, Gender & Sexuality. 

According to some, the latest government actions may be markers of a broader cultural shift in education in the U.S. 

In particular, many feel that the stripping of title IX protections is a gateway step towards further marginalizing the transgender community. In a recent opinion piece for TIME, the lawyer and activist Chase Strangio called the policy “election-year fear-mongering” and “yet another example of the federal government’s unrelenting effort to bully transgender young people.”

Across the country, members of the LGBTQ+ community are feeling ostracized and threatened. But what does this news mean for those who are students at UMass Dartmouth? 

David Gomes, UMass Dartmouth’s Chief Civil Rights Officer, gave a better sense of how the school handles complaints of discrimination, and what the changes might mean for students. 

Gomes, who is also the school’s Title IX coordinator, explained that the full process is available to read online, though he also walked through it from his perspective. In short, complaints of sex-based discrimination, violence, assault, or harassment are investigated by the Office of Civil Rights before a hearing is conducted. These hearings, conducted over Zoom, have both the complainant and accused party present. It’s a procedure reinstated by the Trump administration, bringing a fair share of controversy. 

Gomes referred to the hearing process as a “quasi-court system.” He also expressed concern that being made to face an offender again after a traumatic incident creates a “chilling effect” for victims, making them less likely to come forward. 

After the hearing is concluded, the Office of Civil Rights will determine if the accused is guilty, and what sanctions should be applied. These penalties range from loss of campus privileges to an outright expulsion from the university. In most cases, a no-contact order is put in place between the two involved parties. Gomes also made clear that he updates campus police on all pending Title IX complaints weekly, so if a criminal offense has been committed, they will be able to handle prosecution.

He also referenced a high-profile case at Cornell University, where seven men were accused of gang-raping a woman in 2024. Though Cornell disciplined the accused men to varying degrees, none of them faced criminal charges. Gomes made clear that, in cases like this, it is key for school officials to communicate with law enforcement. Without this crucial link, only so much can be done by the universities. 

“The first thing I tell people when they walk in my office: I’m not a cop,” Gomes said. 

As for recent changes to the Department of Education’s policies, Gomes says, “Luckily, we live in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.” Though cases of anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination aren’t handled under Title IX, students are still protected by the law. These cases are referred to the Office of Community Standards and, if necessary, police. 

When asked if he has seen evidence of cultural change at UMass Dartmouth as a result of the recent policy changes, Gomes answered no. Though the political conversation around Title IX remains heated, the school continues its focus not only on enforcing its policies, but deterring  incidents. 

By educating the community on consent and bystander intervention, Gomes believes that the school continues to foster the healthiest possible environment. He explained his philosophy through the saying, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” 

“If you see something, say something. Don’t be afraid to report it,” Gomes said. Though coming forward can be intimidating, the school has resources to protect and care for all parties involved in cases of violence, assault, harassment, and discrimination, whether their case falls under Title IX or not. 

It seems that further transformations in government policy are quite likely, both in terms of education and broader attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community. Although students at UMass Dartmouth remain protected by both university policies and state law, many still worry that, as a society, we’re moving backwards. 

The TIME article by Chase Strangio summarizes these concerns in one sentence: “It is a cruel and unnecessary gesture that demeans the importance of legal protections for LGBTQ students and the dignity of trans youth.” 

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If you or someone you know has been a victim of discrimination, assault, or harassment of any kind, there are resources available at UMass Dartmouth:

Office of Civil Rights | Foster Administration, 307 | (508) 999-8810

University Police | Power Plant Building, Ring Road | (508) 999-8107

Center for Women, Gender & Sexuality | MacLean Campus Center 207 | (508) 910-4582

Counseling Center | Auditorium Annex | (508) 999-8648