To the editor:
I read with deep sadness and disappointment the article titled “Court docs: Piedmont ignored sexual complaint” that appeared above the fold in your April 27, 2022, edition.
The article portrays a Piedmont University that callously disregards matters of student safety and well being, that violates state and federal laws designed to protect students. To read the article, one would think that Piedmont fosters a closed-door culture, where would-be whistleblowers remain silent for fear of retribution, where cold-blooded administrators put their own interests first, no matter the cost.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
The article acknowledges that “Piedmont University hired an outside investigator for the Title IX complaint,” but fails to expound on the significance of this fact.
Piedmont acted in full compliance with its own internal Title IX policies and with state and federal laws concerning Title IX when responding to the student’s complaint. It was under no obligation to take any additional action.
Nonetheless, Piedmont did go one step further, hiring an independent investigator to verify it had handled and responded to the situation correctly. Piedmont did this out of its deep and abiding commitment to creating a safe, healthy and supportive environment for both students and employees.
The student was given the opportunity to appeal the university’s decision, but the student declined to do so. This fact speaks volumes to the thoroughness of Piedmont’s response, the findings of the investigation and the student’s ability to be heard throughout the process – even at the very end.
The article observes that the declaration made by the student’s mother was submitted in a completely unrelated case against the university. This was a legal maneuver by an attorney working on behalf of a client. The Northeast Georgian’s decision to include in their article, however, is something else entirely – it’s a needless attack on an institution that has been a cornerstone of this community for 125 years.
Piedmont University deserves fair and balanced coverage. The Northeast Georgian did us all a terrible disservice on April 27, 2022.
Daniel Silber
Piedmont University, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost