Armstrong v. James Madison University et al

Filing 26

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Michael F. Urbanski on 6/1/17. (kld)

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e ; bpjuù.ai:e i%W e ' i' at Ar lolkq A '- s : lv : I TH E UN I N TED STATE S D I RICT CO U RT ST FO R T H E W ESTERN D I STRICT O F V I RGI I N A H AR RISON BU R G D I SI N VI O yjo u JUM ûj2 1 97 ' 1. : ------$ '-'5' 1 2 ,.'. h '..-e'> - 7 -'-t ' !7 * 'k ' ' ' .61 (.f(r.C'tk-.f BY: ' EPU 'f' '*' . + ( G4/ . M ATTH EW W . ARM STRO N G, Pl ntf, ai if Case N o.5: 6- 53 1 cv- V. J ES M AD I AM SON UN I RSI VE TY,eta1. . By: D ef endant s. Mi chaelF.U r bansd l Unie St t sDititJ t d a e stc udge M EM O RAN D U M O PI ION N Th sc s wa r fre t t Ho r bl J e C. ppe Unt dSttsM a itae i a e s e er d o he no a e o l Ho , ie ae gsr t J dg , êu ntt 28U. C. 6 61 17) f arc u e pu s a o S. j 3 ( ) ,or eomme e dip iinofdee nt' $4 nd d s osto fnda s mo i t din is ECF Nos 7 1 . eM a itaeJ g fldar po ta tons o s as. . , 1 Th gsr t ud e l e e r nd rc e omme to (R&R' o Fe r a y2 2 1 , e omme i t a plitf M a t w W . ndai n f < 7 n b u r 3, 0 7 r c ) ndng h t an if the Ar sr scom pli bedir s e i ise ie y. m tong' ant snis d n t ntt t ECF N o. O n M a ch 8,2017, 24. r Ar tong fl d aRe pons t t R&R.ECF N o.25. ms r ie s e o he Ar ton br u htt i c s atrh sau me rhi a t J me M a s n msr g o g h s a e fe i lmni mbe s p t he a s dio Uri riy('MUR Uni riyRe r ai n g m (UREC7 wa r vo e .OnMa c 3 2 6 l st < ' ve st ce to y T ve J ) K ) se kd r h , 01 Ar s r wasexe csng a t UREC gy ,a ac or ng t Ar s r m tong r ii t he m nd, c di o m tong: 1 sopped brefy f a c t i l or onve s i wi. coed e pl , r aton t h m oyee g fnd nt M e ha Caa o (k M isDo / 1, t whom Id de e a j g n lbr a a s e /) wih ' ha s ver l fvoz bl a pl s nt pr vi d e a a a e nd ea a e ous i e a i . Id ntr ctons ' gr own t lke he ,a ie her be ut ,i elge e,a ot z o i r dm r d a y nt li nc nd he quaiis She s m ed ge zne a good pr pe i parne , lte . ee nti , os ctve t r s eone who c d be t used t ls i t l r She had om oul r t o a t n he ong un. r ponde t pr vi es d o e ous i e a i nt r ctons wih m e pl a a l a t e s nty nd a ee bl She w a gld,or a a ed s e r tm e I s gr a y. s a ppe r o, ve y i poke t o he .She ha t ne on t gr n l - nd 1 wa r dy t go r d ur d he ee i a ght s ea o t ough.She ha gve m e gr en lght a lt w a down t hr d i n e i s l he y he tal a e r i e s cton whe e s coul ha t ned on a t i, t ve y ntr e i r he d ve at yel orr The e ha be n no r it nc on Ca a o' pa ti low ed. t d e essa e l br s r f r a ic om ntc omm unia i wa unwant wih no r it nc i i c ton s ed; t ess a e t s a ce anc a encour ge e . c pt e nd a m nt A fe e ani t m y f ih a r la e on bi lvrs tr xpli ng hat at nd einc bnca i dom a 1w f m or gui nc al w e m e t ha a young wie nd a or al da e lo d o ve f, e t ven hough lw a an ol r m a Is d,flm l tng f a wie: s de n ai f' ooli or f a you s e lke agood pr pe t' Then Ias nd em i os c .' ked,T oul you v d be i e esed i c muniatng,i ge tng t kno ea h ot r nt r t n om c i n ti p w c he be t r wih t e nt l pos i lt of m a za W oul you te , t he ve ua sbiiy r ige? d t nk a hi bout i?' W ih t t l w ake a y t c i t' t ha l d wa o ontnue m y wor kout . Com pl,ECF N o.1,at45. Thecom pli doe noti c t how Caa o r ponded t . 1 ant s ndi a e lbr es o Ar st spr m tong' opos l H ow e r t ne da At sr r eved an e alfom aUREC a. ve , he xt y m t ong ec i m i r sa fm e be i c i t tli U REC m e be s p had bee s pende be us ofs xua t f m r ndiatng ha ns m r hi n us d ca e e l haasme .J Hi membe s pwaspe ma ntyzvoke on M a c 30,2016.- a 46. r s nt - s da rhi r ne l e d rh J1 t . L Ar sr f m t ong oughtt r voca he e éon ofli gy m e be s p on num e ousfont , zs m m r hi r r s i l i t fl ofaTil I c mpli wihJ SOfkeo Eq lOp ru t. ncudng he ing i te X o ant t MU' f f ua po t ni Comp . y l a 47.H e as s it d r que t unde t Vigi aFr edom ofI or aton A c , a Code t lo ubnlte e s s r he r ni e nf m i tV . Ann. j22 3 0 -2.- 71 , e k n c mmunc to bewe nJ U e o e sz g r i hi j .- 7 0 2 3 4 s e i g o iains t e M mply e e a dng s UREC m e be s p.See Com pl a 46- l due c s Ar sr fl t sf de a lws t m r hi . t 47. n our e, m t ong ied hi e r l a ui a an t M u,Caa o a s v n o he d fnd nt a s rig c tt to l sa u o y a g is l lbr , nd e e t r e e a s s etn onsiu ina, t t tr , nd sa elw vi ai a ii outt r voc ton ofhi UREC gy m e be slp. t t a ol tons rsng he e a i s m m r li Ar sr g a stst a fthemanis i t tPli tf ..h sbe n sa e e a m ton s et h t fl r i sue s ha an if . a e lnd r d nd dea e byt e g e ae a flea c ai nsofafw oft edee nt ( lb o, fm d he xa g r td nd as c us to e h fnda s Caa r ' . Xrc lEse a qa s Ro i on . Co l a 45 Ac o dngt At to , lbr ia t s nd me q b ns l' mp . t . c r i o - r ng Caa o ' ms 1Az s r was 65 year o1 att tm e oft si dent Com pl at46. m t ong s d he i hi nci . . 2 r po tdAr ton ' a va e t J ofiil, c ldTil I Adn iita o Ro ns e re msr gs d nc s o MU fcas whih e te X zr st t r bi on l t t i tat an i tgaton. o nii e nvesi i Robi on la ned t tCaa o' s r s ,Eses ha ns e z ha lbt s upe vior t , d expe i d sm ia adva sby At sr rence i lr nce m tong. hieAr sz a ist thepr W l m t ong dnnt ha opos ed m arige t Caabr on M a c 3,2016,Com pl at45,a f s ra o l o rh . nd f had hown an i e e ti'Es e ' ntê s t t s' l i t pas,Com pl a 51 he c e t tCaa o a Es e çdit t d a exa r t d t n he t . t , ont nds ha lbr nd t s f s oz e nd gge a e he crumsa c s a (o rg l d a utk yf cs'Co l a 4 . Ar sr n as ic t n e , nd ) utiht i bo e a t. mp . t 62 m to g lo e ' c mpli t th wa de e d pr e sdu i gRo i o si ve t to a e uig o ans ha e s nid ue oc s rn bns n7 n skai n nd ns n t voc ton ofhi gy m e be s p. e ai s m m r hi Atbotom , m s r beive t tCa a o and Esesi t d hi a nc a t t t Ar tong le s ha l br t nvie s dva es nd ha hi c s onductoughtnotbec r ctrze a s xua ha as m e : ha a e i d s e l z s nt W hen a young ldy m a a kes a ove t and cea l vii e a n r l ry sbl nd i ntfa e s xua com m uni ton i he e ii a tz s de ii bl e l ca i n r ntc ng tie he s d t s bl be e c ed t r ceve a opra e s xua houl ea ona y xpe t o e i ppt i t e l rs e pons fom m al ,a s s d be hed r s es r es nd he houl l e ponsbl f i e or r s ndng t t e e mae i iit s hre- n wih t e po i o l s a l ntai ve esf ot t he . U ni r iysas it nc and o r i .W hen ta U ni r iy sde ve st ' ss a e ve sght le ve st i s wih M s D oe f l knowi t ts m ade pr re s gesi t . uly ng ha he u int ug tons t ough he r ve lng atie i i t ng a cas a i a sdi hr t e ai tr , t s aki l s cton nd i ng wih f m aes a i t m aes Tli i s x dic ini ton by t t e l gans l . a s s e s rt nai he Uni r iy.M aesc ve st l annotbe hed r ponsbl i t y r pond t l es i e f he es o f m aes postve m es a f ate i M s D oe a e l ' ii s ges or t nton. . ppea ed t r o be r a t be we a br d,s t c us oft si i nti on e dy o d nd e o he a e hi ncde s he,a s ha nog o dsupo whih t o e tt r ntc r nd he s r un n c o bjc o oma i c mmun c éon.Sh ma e no ob e tonst c mpl nt a o ia e d jci o o i s nd me di notm e i a boyfi nd. d nton ze l a ton t he w a on physc ldiply ofs xualattbut , n ddii o r nt ia s a e ti es Ms . D oe s f i ndl ' r e y a ttz t i de e our ge a nc a d r a i om ntc com m uni ton. The e was abs ut l no i ca i t t s ca i r ol ey ndi ton ha he wa a s nnoyed,e n onc m uch l s was a vi i of badge i ve e, es ctm rng 2A ccorli t e al A r s r obt ned vi hi FO I t ng o m is m t ong ni a s A eques, w hen Est l ned ofCaabt s t es ear l o' i dentwih A r stong f nci t m r rom a s udents rv s ,Es esr t t fshe kte .. e l w ho t upe i oz t epoz ed hat r l w . xacty t s ude s he t nt uperv s was t ki a i ot al ng bout'becaus A t stong f done t s e t ng t ' e m r f had he nm hi o ge ce j'nt patPlsBr i Opp' t Summ..e 1, No.1 1 a 2526 zda td'i he s. . .n ' no J x. ECF 7-, t - . by a s re ofunwa e be vi s Thi stzton doe notm ee eis nt d ha or . s ita i s t t defnii of Tha as m e ' i t t t r was no r he i ton f r s nt: n ha he e epea e td pe t rng ând toublng.Besdes M s D oe,UREC a Til I sei r i i , . nd te X ofii l a e hype ve ia i ove a til Thi i w he e t 1w fc as r r ntl tng z tfe. s s r he a i beng abus d by a bir r us of poozy defned l il i s i e r ta y e l i eg saton, wih s bjci i e p eain,b l a a ho i s a ne d t t u e t ntr r tto y oc l ut rée , nd e s o ve be c nge i or rt beconsit i l ha d n de o ttz ona. t Co la 4 - 0 TheMa itaeJ g hedah ai o No mbe 1 , 1 t a le s mp. t 9 5 . gstt ud e l e rng n ve r 5 20 6 o dc s r Ar st sc nm sa de e nt'm otonst cir s ,ECF N os 9,11 Asnot t m tong' l i nd f nda s i o lsnis . . ed, he Ma itael dg is e a R&R r c mme i t a al Az ton ' cqmsbed s lse gsrt u e su d n e o ndng h t lof msr gs li in is d. TheMa ita eJ g r c gsr t ud e e omme d t talcamsbr ug und r4 U.. j1 8 nde ha l li o ht e 2 SC. 9 3 a Vigni lw a ans l u, lngwih al uc clmss e i mon tr d ma e a ans nd ti a a g i t M ao t 1 s h li e kng e ay a g s g i t t eot e dee a si t i ofiil a a iis bedsnis dwihprj diebe a et h h r fnd nt n her fca c p cte , it se t eu c c us he . c nm sa e ba r d by s r i i m uniy unde t Elve h Am e li r re ove egn m t r he e nt ndm e oft U nie nt he td St esConsiuton.Asf Ar sr scli sunde Til I a i tt i vi l at tt i or m t ong' nm r te X gans he ndi dua dee a s t Ma itaeJ dg r c l nde t ecnmsbed s s e wih p eudc fnd nt,he gsr t u e e onme d hos li il s d t r j ie ni bec us Til I doe notpr dea c us ofac i a i ti vi l.SeeBr c v. a e te X s ovi a e ton gans ndi duas ae Buc na 5 F. u 2 41 , 9( D. .1 9 )(ol ci c ss. eMa itaeJ g ha n, 5 S pp. d 6 41 E. Va 9 9 c l t a e)Th gsrt ud e e ng r com m ende dir s a ofAr st sr m ani f r sat or and consiutonalcnm s e d snis l m t ong' e i ng ede al t ut y tt i li wih tpr jdief rfin t saeacam pu s a t Rue1 1 6 oft Fe tlRu e t ou eu c o al g o tt li ru nt o l 24 ) he de a ls i $4 ofCii Pr c d ze La t , h M a itaeJ d et c v l o e tr . sl t e gsr t u g e omme e t tt c u tde l t y nd d ha he o r ci o ne e e cs s pplme tlurs ci o rAr ton ' saelw cams 2 U. C. 1 6 c() x r ie u e n a j iditon ve msr gs tt a li . 8 S. j 3 7()3 (lo n dititc u t t d ci s pp e ntlu idci o e saelw cnmswhe et e al wi g src o rs o e l u lme a jrs iton v r tt a li ne z h c ur ha dit se alclmso rwh c i h dorgna jrs ci ) o t s snis d 1 li ve ih t a ii lu iditon . 4 Th c u tha rv e d Ar sr gsRe po et t M a itaeJ g ' R&R a e o r s e iwe m ton ' s ns o he gstt ud es nd fnd hi o e éo t bee ieywih tmei. t rt a a d e st lg l dncpe a i s s bjc ns o nttl t ou rt Rahe h n d r s he e a p i ls nd c s 1w s ldyfani t Ma itaeJ g ' R&R, mst nga lst c ur t jt o a e a oi l zt ng he g sr t ud es Ar to s he o t o eés n t r e ofpr edur a t f uls oc e nd he unda e a sofsa ede ii i or rt i plm e hi vii of m ntl t r c ss n de o m e nt s son s it. ee .Pli ifsRepons t R&R, No. 5 a 2rf zc nmae s ul be ocey Se . , antf s e o ECF 2 , t Ameia ls ho d pr edi a pat a c s f be r e s i t d t y ha a oce ng s n'rh - zt z ul r- nsea he ve iowed bic ol w om e and t hy d n c a pyr l i u pe pl t tl t g h w t l a dwh t o d 7 Ar to ' Re po e r p ei o s o e o el hemj o o i n a t o. msr ngs s ns g ve ). doesnota es t c e 1w s ddr s he as a uppori t R& R,butr t ra gue t tt c ts d tng he a he r s ha he out houl s tr e a d p e e nta i rft ysa i t wa o Pli ifsjur yt j d e'1 a e uls n r c de sde c he tnd n he y f antf' o ne o us c . d. t i ' 3.O utr epublc f i , ounde on t r e ofl w,i <agove nm e oflwsa notofm e ' d he ul a sf r nt a nd n.' Coo e v. r n, 8U. 1 2 (9 8 Trn ure,.c nc ri )( odn o Ad ms r Aao 35 S. , 3 1 5 ) a kf trJ, o urng qu gl hn a , M a s c e t Consi zi of178 pt 1,a t s a hus ts tt ton a 0, . r . . s a cour i notf e t As uch, ts re o dir g r t lw t c nf r t t v e ofa ypatc a l ka . msr ngso e to se a d he a o o o m o he iws n riulr i ntAr to ' bjci ns t a e overuld i t i entr t . r r e n he r ie y I s t c u tf l a r e wih t eM a itaeJ g ' t r ug a wel n um, he o r ul g e s t h gsr t ud es ho o h nd l y - sppo tdR&R, ndo erlsAr to ' o e to teeo. a pr p it Or rwi be u re ' a v rue msrngs bjcins h zt An p o rae de l l e e ed. ntr E tzd f - /.- Inee: '- x * 7 M i hae F. r ns c l U ba ki Uni dS ae Ditit ud e t t ts src l g e 5

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