Sexual Harassment Lawsuit in Iowa Filed by Former Firefighter

A Dubuque firefighter is suing the city because she says she has endured sexual harassment on the job since she started in 2011. Jami Boss cites a number of incidents in her lawsuit including being told by a lieutenant that she was only hired because she was a girl. Boss said male firefighters used the women’s restroom and sometimes walked in on Boss while she was in there. And in one incident, a coworker shoved his hand down the back of Boss’ pants, according to the lawsuit.

Boss also said in her lawsuit that officials retaliated against her after she filed complaints about the way she was treated. And she says she was passed over for promotion in favor of male colleagues who had less experience than Boss. City officials denied most of the allegations in a formal response to the lawsuit. While this incident does not seem to hold much promise in the law surrounding sexual harassment, inspiration can be taken from changes in university policies. 

Inspiration from Changes in University policies 

The University of Iowa reported its new interim policy on sexual harassment and sexual misconduct at the state Board of Regents meeting on Thursday. The new policy is in response to Title IX regulations relating to sexual assault, introduced on May 6 by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. 

One of the new regulations by the U.S. Department of Education under DeVos was changing the evidentiary standards of sexual misconduct cases. It allowed universities to choose between a “preponderance of evidence” standard or a new, stricter “clear and convincing” standard. The University of Iowa (UI) retained the preponderance of evidence standard in its new policy.

University of Northern Iowa Title IX Officer Leah Gutknecht said the new Title IX regulations emphasize the need for a well-trained team including investigators, decision-makers, appeal officers, and the Title IX coordinators. The UI, Iowa State University, and the University of Northern Iowa coordinated over the summer to develop the new regulations. Gutknecht said all of the institutions have been trained on the new requirements, created feedback opportunities for students and faculty on the new policies, and revised policy and procedures.

The UI said its new policy on sexual harassment and sexual misconduct, “created a single interim sexual harassment and sexual misconduct policy and procedures to ensure compliance with the new Title IX regulations while upholding the university values of excellence, learning, community, diversity, integrity, respect, and responsibility.” The regulations still include rules regarding sexual assault, stalking, and domestic and dating violence. The new rules define sexual misconduct as “any unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature that is committed without consent or by force, intimidation, coercion, or manipulation.” The university will seek feedback on the new rules during an interim period of no longer than one year.