To comply under changes to federal law, SUNY Oswego has reversed a Title IX amendment prohibiting discrimination against transgender students.

The Department of Education reversed an August 2024 amendment from the Biden Administration explicitly expanding Title IX protections for transgender students. The original amendment allowed students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that aligned with their gender identity.

A federal judge had ruled the protections unconstitutional in the case Tennessee v. Cardona in January.

The reversal followed an executive order President Trump signed in January declaring that there are two genders of male and female. The order rejected the reality of transgender identities while claiming to protect women and “restore biological truth.”

The order also ordered all departments within the executive branch — including the Department of Education — to “enforce all sex-protective laws to promote [the] reality” that there are ‘two sexes, male and female.’”

The order also reverts Title IX policy to Trump-era regulations that implemented several due process requirements for those accused of sexual assault, such as cross-examining their accuse. Advocates for sexual assault victims condemned such procedures as traumatizing.

The Office of the Dean of Students sent a mass email on March 5 announcing changes to the code of conduct. The message did not elaborate on what the changes actually were.

After The Oswegonian inquired about the changes, Brandon Bennett, Director of Student Conduct, confirmed that the changes were to comply with Tennessee v. Cardona. Lisa Evaneski, the Title IX Coordinator at SUNY Oswego, further elaborated on the policy change in an email.

“Our office oversees compliance with many intersecting laws regarding sexual and interpersonal violence, sex discrimination and more,” Evaneski said. “Reverting to the 2020 rule of law means that the fedeal protections are no longer there for certain populations, which is devastating for so many. However, we have state laws such as NYS Human Rights Law that has protections for gender identity and expression, sexual orientation and pregnancy. NYS Article 129A and 12B has specific requirements for dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. I am thankful that our state has protections in place for valuable members of our campus community.”

Students with questions can contact the Office of the Dean of Students by emailing deanofstudents@oswego.edu or by calling the office at 315.312.5483.