If you want an example of how horrible results can come from innocent little policy mistakes, Title IX is impossible to top. Language inserted in the Higher Education Act (itself a big mistake) back in 1972 that was supposed to prevent colleges receiving federal funds from discriminating against women was subsequently turned into a steamroller that made colleges launch inquisitions against any student, faculty member, or administrator who might have said or done anything with the slightest sexual tinge. It was all done through regulations imposed by zealots in Obama’s Department of Education.

In today’s Martin Center article, University of Utah professor Nick Wolfinger writes about the absurdity of many Title IX cases, including his own.

The complaint against Wolfinger was a hash consisting of some bawdy talk many years ago and alleged “gender discrimination” because of a remark he made about a program during a departmental meeting. Also, he was accused of using “inappropriate language” in an interview with a magazine reporter. Wolfinger writes,

I’ve talked to hundreds of reporters in the past 20 years and had absolutely no idea what I might have said. It’s profoundly threatening to open intellectual inquiry to know that anyone can complain about you to your university at any time.

That’s exactly it! Title IX makes it possible to accuse almost anyone of anything vaguely sexual and force him to go through costly administrative procedures that are punishment in themselves. Wolfinger had to spend some $14,000 in defending against what were baseless, vindictive accusations.

His conclusion nails the truth:

Every second and every dollar a university fritters away on frivolous or trumped-up allegations is time and money not spent on cases with actual victims. Title IX inquisitions like the ones described here trivialize the actual victims of sexual harassment and assault, often young people who may have been subjected to gruesome assaults or stalking so invasive that it interferes with the victim’s ability to pursue a college education. Frivolous Title IX cases are a crushing insult to the unacceptably large number of women who have been victimized by their peers in higher education. No one deserves that.

Secretary DeVos has rescinded the odious “Dear Colleague” letter by which the Obamaites did this, but I fear that cases like Wolfinger’s will continue popping up until school officials are held to account for their abuse of process.