Elizabeth Tang

  • Hosted by National Women's Law Center
  • Sponsored by Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
  • Service location Washington, District of Columbia
  • Law school University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
  • Issue area Education/Special Education
  • Fellowship class year 2017
  • Program Design-Your-Own Fellowship

The Project

Elizabeth worked to end sexual harassment of students, with a focus on K-12 girls of color who are suspended or otherwise pushed out of school after reporting sexual violence.

Sexual harassment should never be the end of anyone’s education, yet more than one in five girls ages 14-18 are kissed or touched without their consent. And when students report sexual harassment to their schools, many are ignored or even punished (e.g., for engaging in “consensual” sex)—particularly if they are girls of color, pregnant or parenting students, LGBTQ students, and/or students with disabilities.

Title IX is a civil rights law that requires schools to address sexual harassment, but federal courts have created a liability standard that is extremely difficult to overcome. And now, the Department of Education has proposed Title IX rules that would allow—or even require—schools to ignore students who report sexual harassment and to apply unfair procedures that would prejudice and retraumatize survivors.

Fellowship Highlights

In the past two years, Elizabeth has:

  • Litigated four Title IX cases on behalf of multiple student survivors of sexual harassment—including sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking—and secured favorable case law and a pending settlement
  • Provided legal advice by phone and email to ~275 students, parents, educators, and advocates
  • Coordinated campaign alongside national and state coalition partners to oppose Department of Education’s proposed Title IX rules on sexual harassment
  • Created sexual harassment toolkit to help students of all ages and genders understand and advocate for their Title IX rights. So far, 600 hard copies of toolkit have been distributed
  • Educated ~2,000 students, parents/guardians, educators, Title IX coordinators, victim advocates, and attorneys on Title IX and sexual harassment through community presentations and workshops

What’s Next

Following her Fellowship, Elizabeth will remain at NWLC as Counsel. She will continue fighting for students’ Title IX rights through litigation, policy advocacy, and know-your-rights education.

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