When a Kiss Isn't Just a Kiss: Title IX and Student-to-Student Harassment
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Authors
Williams, Verna L.
Brake, Deborah L.
Issue Date
1997
Type
Journal Article
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION|A 7-year-old Queens boy who kissed a classmate and tore a button from her skirt was suspended from school for sexual harassment, then reinstated as chagrined school officials weathered a wave of criticism yesterday and said they would review the school system's sexual harassment policies.'Two young boys - 6-year-old Jonathan Prevette of North Carolina and 7-year-old DeAndre Dearinge of New York - experienced their "fifteen minutes of fame," thanks to kisses on the cheek that got them branded as sexual harassers. Media organizations pounced on these stories, with some columnists even declaring these youngsters casualties in the "war against boys" waged by feminist organizations. Despite the fact that several media reports focused rightly on the serious cases of sexual harassment in schools that unfortunately are the rule, many more reacted to the "kissing bandit" stories with unbridled zeal at what appeared to be cases of political correctness gone wild, to the detriment of boys who were just being boys. One commentator even went so far as to opine: "as long as ... [members of] the...
Description
Citation
30 Creighton L. Rev. 423 (1996-1997)
Publisher
Creighton University School of Law