Okay long post.

I(18F) am attending a private Christian university in Texas. I was sexually assaulted in February by my then-bf (21M.) I reported to the Title IX office after several months and decided to move forward with Adaptible Resolution, which essentially means "not disciplinary." I wasn't trying to get the guy kicked out of school, just give him a reality check and keep him away from me. We ended up signing an agreement, limiting our contact to that within a classroom. Directly after that, we decided to get a No Contact directive, eliminating all communication.

Last week, I was contacted by the Title IX office. They told me I was in three courses with my ex. One of these classes has only 4 students. I immediately contacted both my professor and the title IX office, asking if there was any way to fix this.

Here's the issue. The office can't do anything that restricts a student's access to academic resources and education.

Okay, fine. I'll sit in the class anyway, as long as he doesn't talk to me.

The title IX office responds and says"Oh, actually the professor says that group discussion is essential, so we have to amend your no contact directive."

So now, not only do I have to sit in class with the person who raped me, but I also have to talk to him and have him talk to me. I hesitantly agreed because the Title IX employee on the phone didn't really indicate that I had any other option.

then, I receive another phone call. They say, "Well, since your initial Adaptable Resolution had this provision in it, we might as well just strike down the No Contact Order." Again, I felt like I had to agree.

I considered just dropping the class, but it's not offered again until Fall 2024. The semester after I'm supposed to graduate. So essentially, my university is preventing me from graduating on time, and forcing me to choose between finishing my degree in 4 years, and preserving my mental healthy by not having contact with my abuser.

So here's my question. Is it worth contacting a lawyer? I really don't know what to do. I can't stand the thought of continuing the class, but I have to if I want to graduate. Plus I'm on scholarships, so I can't afford an extra semester.

What should I do?

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