Boston University forces students, faculty to complete questionable mandatory Title IX training

Boston University is facing criticism over the nature of questions from its mandatory Title IX training, especially in light of the fact that students who do not complete the training are barred from registering for courses the following semester.

The university has long required students and faculty to complete some form of training related to sex-based discrimination and sexual assault, however this year's offerings have some wondering whether the questions have gone too far.

Screenshots obtained by the Washington Free Beacon appear to show the mandatory training going far beyond simply educating and preventing infringements on Title IX.

The questions are about hypothetical scenarios, like this one, which starts with the premise: "You're in the cafeteria with two colleagues, Jessica and Kim, who is Asian." The question is about how you should respond when Jessica notices that Kim's husband is white and suggests that were they to have children, who would be multi-racial, they would be "cute."

In Boston University's view, the correct answer is to intervene in the conversation between the two adult women, on behalf of the colleague who is Asian, as she may have been made uncomfortable. "Intervene, Kim might have felt uncomfortable about Jessica making comments about her race, her husband's appearance, or the prospect of having children."

Another question details a scenario wherein a man speaks to a woman multiple times over a period of weeks, and appears at one point to rub her back. The university urges users to take action, even if they're not certain that what they saw was unwanted by both parties involved.

They demand intervention, saying "You don't have to be certain that potentially concerning behavior crosses the line before taking action. You saw David stand close to and hover over Heidi, which also could make her uncomfortable. It's usually better to do something that nothing."

There is no mention made of perhaps talking to Heidi, or realizing that adults are capable of sorting things out for themselves. Instead, BU assumes that hypothetical Heidi is a victim and hypothetical you needs to rush in as a savior as though she is a proverbial damsel in distress.

Users were also urged to intervene if they hear someone mocking an accent, stating that this action is always offensive.

Another question asked whether users thought false accusations were common, and said the correct answer was that, "it is far more likely that troubling behavior will go unreported than that someone will make a false report."

Freedom of speech advocates argue that Boston University's training program amounts to "compelled speech," since only the school's "preferred answers" are deemed correct, and violates the institution's own policies.