The college has recently been facing backlash and speculation from students on “YikYak”, with anonymous complaints about students with alleged Title IX violations, and the college’s “lack of seriousness” towards the matter. A popular complaint was regarding Orientation Leader selections for the ’25-’26 academic year, and rumors about an individual selected and alleged accusations against them. 

Several anonymous posts have been viewed on “YikYak”, complaining that the college does not take Title IX charges seriously, and that students with these charges and accusations should not be permitted student leadership positions. 

One of these leadership positions is the role of Orientation Leader, and there has been speculation that a student who was selected for this position has Title IX charges against them. An anonymous student who is a part of the Orientation program at the college said that “someone was accepted [to the program] and there were rumors being spread that they had Title IX allegations against them, but they were all rumors and not true.”

Regarding student complaints about the issue, the student said that “there were Yik Yaks, but all of that was handled through administration if people had complaints.” Jean Couture, Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Student Engagement and Leadership discussed the seriousness of Title IX allegations and charges, and said “no students have reached out to me regarding Title IX cases or concerns. The College always takes Title IX or conducts unbecoming Anselmian concerns seriously.” 

In response to these anonymous posts and accusatorial speculations, Saint Anselm’s Title IX Coordinator, Marcie Vaughn has issued a response to these concerns, and emphasized the seriousness the college places on these cases. The response in its entirety is as follows:

As the College’s Title IX Coordinator, I’d like to respond to rumors on Yik Yak that certain individuals or groups have “Title IX’s,” and that the college has failed to discipline these people. These rumors, spread from behind a veil of anonymity, range from inaccurate to outrageously untrue. They defame individuals and groups. Moreover, these rumors silence victims; prevent the college from providing information, resources, and support; and harm the college’s ability to design tailored prevention strategies.

Let me set the record straight:

1. Even though a student may believe something “is Title IX,” oftentimes, that is not the case. I review all reports of conduct that may fall under Title IX. Many times, my initial review indicates that Title IX is not, in fact, implicated. This is because Title IX is a highly regulated and technical area of the law. Under the newly-reimplemented 2020 regulations, Title IX covers a narrow category of sex-based conduct: sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and sexual harassment that is severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive. Title IX’s scope and jurisdiction is further limited by temporal and geographic characteristics of the conduct and parties.

The college does not ignore reports about conduct falling outside the scope and/or jurisdiction of Title IX. When a report does not meet the Title IX threshold, it is addressed under other college policies.

2. A person victimized by sex-based misconduct already had their voice silenced once. The Title IX office will not silence them a second time by imposing a college process against their wishes. When I determine that a complaint could fall under Title IX, if substantiated, I invite the student making the claim to meet with me. I provide information about their rights, including but not limited to the right to an advisor; Title IX processes; on and off-campus resources; supportive measures; and how they can request an investigation by filing a formal, written, signed complaint.

Sometimes, for very good reasons, a complainant does not want the college to open an investigation. That is their private, personal choice and they have the right to make that choice without interference, intimidation, or shaming. Their choice does not mean that their complaint is false. Nor does it mean that the person accused is responsible for the alleged conduct.

In such situations, I work with the complaining party to identify, implement, and monitor reasonably available Title IX supportive measures so that the event they reported is not a barrier to their access of college programs or activities. I do not hesitate to challenge administrators and faculty if necessary to ensure that a complainant receives supportive measures that will preserve their equitable access to college programs and activities.

3. The Title IX office under my leadership has never received multiple reports alleging conduct by a specific, identified individual that would be an actionable “pattern” of behavior under Title IX. Avid readers of Yik Yak may believe that the college has permitted sexual predators to remain on campus. That is utterly and completely false.

I prioritize a complainant’s request about whether to open an investigation. Nevertheless, if I were to receive reports of an alleged pattern of Title IX violations by an individual, but no complainants were willing to come forward, I would personally sign a formal complaint and open an investigation on the college’s behalf. Under those circumstances, the law would require it. It has never happened during my tenure here.

Let me be crystal clear: the rumors on Yik Yak claiming that individuals or groups of individuals have multiple “Title IXs” are defamatory lies. Students should vet their news sources, bearing in mind that anonymity breeds a perception of impunity.

4. Federal law mandates that the college treat a person accused of conduct falling under Title IX as “not responsible” unless the complaint is substantiated following a formal investigation and hearing that includes cross examination. When a complainant requests an investigation, which is the only path to a disciplinary response under Title IX, the respondent has legal rights, too. Those rights include but are not limited to: the right to an advisor; the right to detailed notice of charges against them, including the identity of the complainant; the right to review and respond to the evidence against them, including evidence bearing on credibility; the right to present a defense; and the right to be presumed not responsible unless a hearing panel substantiates the complaint based on a preponderance of the evidence.

Federal law requires the Title IX office act as a neutral entity that protects the legal rights of complainants and respondents.

5. The fact that a student may be receiving Title IX supportive measures does not always mean that there is a “Title IX” against someone else. When a report falls under Title IX, that means that the college must follow a specific, federally-mandated procedure. That procedure includes providing supportive measures to complainants, even if the complainant does not request an investigation or hearing that could lead to discipline.

6. The fact that the Title IX office ensures compliance with federal law does not mean that the college fails to support survivors. President Favazza and the college’s leadership have shown a deep commitment to survivors by creating and supporting The Harbor, which is an advocacy center for survivors. Saint Anselm College is one of only two college campuses in New Hampshire with a dedicated sexual violence prevention center. The Harbor is located on the lower level of the Jean Student Center. Unlike the Title IX office, which must be neutral, The Harbor advocates for survivors both within and outside of the Title IX process.

Nicole Kipphut, who runs The Harbor, is a truly fierce victim advocate. We work in close partnership, each of us staying in her own lane, to support students and prevent misconduct.

7. The rumors on Yik Yak fuel a myth that speaking up is futile; that harms survivors and our community. The majority of students on college campuses across the country who experience sexual violence never report it. One reason for their silence is a belief that their institution will ignore them.

Silencing victims hurts victims. The college cannot provide support, information, and resources to a person who does not come forward.

Silencing victims harms the community because their voices are key to effective prevention programming. The most effective prevention efforts are tailored to the specific risks in a given community. Creating those targeted prevention tools requires information about the problems that are occurring in the community. When students do not come forward, prevention efforts are less effective.

8. I am here to help.  To those who have experienced sexual violence, I know you are out there. If you want confidential help, contact Nicole Kipphut at The Harbor [email protected]. Nicole can accompany you to any meeting with me. I will treat you with respect and empathy; listen to your needs; inform you about Title IX process; and offer you support and resources – even if you do not want to move forward with an investigation.

Finally, I urge anyone who believes that I have ignored their Title IX complaint to come out of the shadows. Report your concern to President Favazza ([email protected]) or Vice President of Institutional Equity Molly McKean ([email protected]).