Remember when U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos scrapped the Obama administration's guidelines on campus sexual assault because they were "confusing"?
Remember how some Very Serious People, even liberals, praised this as a good-faith effort? (Some folks seem to believe that there's an epidemic of really good guys being falsely accused of rape and this is the worst thing in the world — worse apparently than even being raped). DeVos consulted with Men's Rights Activists on the issue, but she was still strangely given the benefit of the doubt. Here's a little explainer on one of these lovely MRA groups, the National Coalition for Men:
"Chapters have published photos, names, and biographical details of women who have accused men—falsely, the National Coalition for Men insists—of rape. Its members routinely bring lawsuits against women-only networking groups and social events, crying discrimination."
I'm sure women in college feel safer already.
Well, DeVos seems to be confused again — this time over a federal law protecting students with disabilities. This month, the Department of Education rescinded 72 — yes, 72 — guidance documents outlining disabled students' rights.
Why was this necessary? Here's the Washington Post:
"President Trump in February signed an executive order 'to alleviate unnecessary regulatory burdens,' spurring Education Department officials to begin a top-to-bottom review of its regulations."
I'm sure parents with students in special education programs are deeply relieved to be freed from the yoke of meddlesome regulations protecting their children.
Just like I know parents of LGBT students were thrilled when DeVos shrugged at kids being discriminated against.
I'm just throwing this out there, but perhaps DeVos wasn't being an honest broker in dumping sexual assault regulations. Maybe she's just not into protecting the rights of women, LGBTs, disabled kids and other groups that have faced targeted discrimination.
Just a thought.