Some of you will have seen the post the other day. Apparently I made a girl “uncomfortable” via a text exchange (I assure you, there was nothing untoward on my part).
I pressed the University for details, and now I am told I am being formally investigated. They’ve formally accused me of misconduct, now, and told me that I must speak to them over the phone, this week…
For various reasons I won’t go into, I simply cannot do the phone thing, this week. I just can’t. I’ve told them so, and I’ve also told them that I will be seeking legal advice.
They linked me to a web page which essentially, very nebulously, outlines that anyone can make an allegation against a student, even anonymously, and it will be investigated, even if the situation in question has nothing to do with the University…
It even says “Anything can be sexual harassment, even if it only occurs once”. So I gather that is what I am up for…
Fuck me. This is so fucked…
Ahh sorry to hear that. You probably don't have much in the way of rights in that circumstance, but it's always worth trying to learn the rules of the system to make sure you use it the best you can.
It’s just mental, because there’s nothing legally prescriptive about this.
They won’t even specifically outline the allegation. They won’t tell me what “policy” I may have contravened. They’re barely willing to tell me anything at all via email…
It’s really terrible. And yet I’m being forced to participate, or face “consequences”…
if you are 100% wrong you didn't violate any rule, is there any value to fighting your school and escalating this?
I just don't know, because they won't tell me the specifics, even of the allegation...
I can't really know whether it is worth escalating when they won't even tell me what I'm accused of, apart from "misunderstanding which made a fellow student uncomfortable"...
That's all they will tell me. I'm not kidding. There's no firm evidence. Just that...
Absolutely speak to a lawyer. Here in the US you can pay for a consult, and sometimes get it for free. It may cost you a few hundred dollars but it's worth knowing your options if nothing else. The fact that they're telling you not to get a lawyer is a flashing red sign that you should absolutely get a lawyer.
Honestly the level of panic I see from you over what you swear is nothing is something that sets off lawyer alarm bells. If it is really nothing, why are you so very clearly freaking out and saying absurd things about your mental health and shit like you can't do a phone call next week when you so very clearly can?
Not attacking you, but you're acting sus.