From Policy to Practice: Strengthening Anti-Hazing & Title IX Compliance

Susan S. Stone | Kohrman Jackson Krantz

Susan Stone is co-chair, along with Kristina Supler, of KJK’s Student & Athlete Defense/Title IX Practice Group. She and Kristina also co-chair the firm’s Criminal, Cyber & White-Collar Practice Group.

Susan’s life work is to help students in crisis and to meet their legal needs. Recognizing the need for legal services dedicated to protecting students, professors and individuals with disabilities, Susan C. Stone handles matters ranging from special education issues to student disciplinary matters and Title IX investigations. Susan has the knowledge and experience required to navigate due process complaints and the shaping of 504 Plans and Individualized Education Programs. She also handles student matters involving hazing, bullying and social media.

Susan Stone has gained a national reputation for representing students and professors in Title IX cases. She is routinely hired as a student advisor and Title IX attorney for the campus investigation and hearing phase of proceedings and is also retained to handle subsequent university level appeals. Susan is certified in restorative justice, and has also guided students through informal resolutions, including mediation and restorative justice.

Susan’s talent as a student advisor has led to her representing Greek organizations and athletes, as well as other professionals accused of sexual harassment and misconduct. When cases do not resolve at the university level, she has experience fighting in state and federal courts around the country to obtain favorable outcomes for her clients.

Susan’s background in public relations and crisis communication led to her co- creation of the firm’s Reputation Management Practice. This practice assists clients in the rebuilding of their reputation online and on various social media platforms. Susan has also instituted defamation actions when necessary to stop her client’s professional and academic futures from being harmed by libelous postings on the internet.

Susan has a deep understanding of mental health and neurological disorders. She is particularly experienced working with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which allows her to formulate creative defenses for those individuals with ASD and other co-morbidities facing discipline at school or being investigated by law enforcement. Susan is sensitive to the multiple challenges facing this growing population.

Given her experience representing individuals with mental health issues and the rise in students facing parallel criminal charges, Susan’s skills are frequently called upon in the criminal justice system. Susan partners with Kristina to represent adults and juveniles charged with crimes in the state and federal systems. Their clients have faced a variety of charges ranging from misdemeanors to high-level felonies.

Susan is a nationally published author and blogger on topics related to education law. She has lectured on subjects that vary from Twice Exceptional Students, FERPA and the handling of educational records, and how to determine when behavioral issues arise connected to students with disabilities. She has also spoken throughout the country at conferences on Title IX.

In addition, Susan proudly co-hosts the podcast Real Talk with Susan and Kristina to discuss with outside guests cutting edge issues affecting students. Susan is regularly called upon by families and outside therapists to consult on legal matters affecting children. She was named Best Lawyers in America® Education Lawyer of the Year 2022.

Kristina W. Supler | Kohrman Jackson Krantz

Kristina is co-chair, along with Susan Stone, of KJK’s Student & Athlete Defense / Title IX Practice Group.

For nearly twenty years, Kristina has protected and counseled clients during the most difficult periods in their lives. She has developed a sophisticated federal and state practice with a particular focus on internet-based crimes. Her experience is regularly enlisted for complex cases involving allegations of sexual assault, and she has worked on national defense teams representing students and executives facing prosecution in the United States and abroad. Kristina is also extremely adept at working with families and defending juveniles facing prosecution, particularly when the child has a physical or mental disability.

Kristina has achieved great success protecting students and professors in campus Title IX proceedings, which has garnered her national reputation. Her services are particularly sought after to navigate Title IX cases involving a parallel criminal investigation. In addition to being a skilled Title IX attorney, Kristina also helps students of all ages facing academic misconduct, research misconduct and other types of discipline.

Additionally, she is certified in restorative justice and has worked to guide students through informal resolution, including mediation and restorative justice. Kristina has also represented Greek organizations involved in student disciplinary matters and assisted with drafting policies and implementing training. When Title IX and other campus misconduct matters require litigation, Kristina filed a civil suit in federal courts across the country and successfully negotiated resolutions.

Over the years, Kristina’s practice has grown to include representation of people with complex mental health and neurological disorders. She serves as a tireless advocate for clients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Kristina’s understanding of ASD enables her to effectively communicate the social and behavioral deficits associated with ASD to school officials, lawyers and judges.

With training in crisis communication, Kristina leads teams that can protect her clients’ needs not only in court, schools and the workplace, but also in the public realm. Kristina and Susan Stone co-created the firm’s Reputation Management practice to protect clients facing backlash from social media and internet postings, as well as other forms of defamation. Given the diversity of her clients and their needs, Kristina understands the importance of a comprehensive multi-disciplinary strategy.

Kristina regularly writes and speaks on issues involving students and education. Regarded as a go-to authority for journalists examining student legal issues, she has appeared on television and is frequently interviewed. Kristina and Susan Stone host a podcast entitled Real Talk with Susan and Kristina, which explores student issues and offers guidance for parents. Kristina also believes in the importance of service to her profession and the community.

For six years, Kristina served on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL). She also served as a trustee for the Cleveland-Marshall Law Alumni Association. Currently, Kristina serves on the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association’s Judge4Yourself committee, which interviews and rates judicial candidates to assist the public in the election of qualified judges in Ohio.

Jessica L. Galanos | Bricker Graydon

Jessica Galanos is a former university administrator and litigator with experience in the areas of sexual misconduct, hazing, civil rights, student conduct, employment law, accreditation, governance, and regulatory compliance

She regularly advises higher education clients on a variety of legal issues under Title IX, Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Collin’s Law, the Clery Act, and various other federal and state regulations, drawing from her own experience working at a large public university and representing universities in litigation.

Jessica is a trained and experienced civil rights and Title IX investigator and hearing officer. Clients routinely seek Jessica’s assistance with complex matters because of her attention to detail and sensitive approach to interviews and hearings. Jessica also reviews university policies, crafts thoughtful and compliant procedures, and advises higher education clients on how to avoid and navigate complex litigation matters. Jessica also has extensive experience training university administrators on how to address sexual misconduct and hazing matters.

Prior to joining Bricker Graydon, Jessica served as an Assistant Director and Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Illinois State University.

Jessica has also held a variety of positions in Illinois government, including the Governor’s Office, the General Assembly, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Office of Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor. Jessica has also represented clients in a variety of litigation matters while working in private practice in Springfield, Illinois

I. Stop campus hazing act of 2024 | 1:00pm – 2:00pm

• Defining hazing and student organizations
  • Federal definitions of hazing and student organizations
  • Scope and obligations for colleges and universities
• Annual security report (ASR) requirements
  • Enhanced reporting on hazing-related incidents
  • Integrating hazing data into the ASR framework
• Campus hazing transparency report
  • Mandatory publication and updating of hazing incident data
  • Transparency is the best practice for compliance and public trust
• Defending and navigating hazing cases
  • Discuss group vs. Individual responsibility, evidence gathering, and expungement options
  • Address parallel investigations, potential expulsions, and strategies for students conduct hearings
  • Discuss case studies

Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

II. Title IX compliance post-state of Tennessee v. Cardona | 2:10pm – 3:10pm

• Synopsis of the state of Tennessee v. Cardona ruling
  • Key arguments and findings in the Kentucky federal court decision
  • Impact of vacating the Biden administration’s 2024 title IX final rule
• Reverting to the 2020 title IX regulations
  • Key differences between the 2020 regulations and the vacated final rule
  • Ensuring institutional compliance under the pre-existing framework
• Implications for discrimination and harassment policies
  • Addressing the narrower definitions of sex discrimination and harassment
  • Managing first amendment concerns, including pronoun usage and compelled speech
• Challenges and dual compliance considerations
  • Navigating the disparity between title IX protections for students and title vii protections for employees under Bostock v. Clayton County
  • Ensuring consistency in policies and training to address both frameworks
• Next steps and future developments
  • Anticipating appeals and potential legal challenges under a new administration
  • Monitoring legal and regulatory updates to maintain compliance