Author: R. Shep Melnick File Type: pdf One civil rights-era law has reshaped American societyand contributed to the countrys ongoing culture wars Few laws have had such far-reaching impact as Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Intended to give girls and women greater access to sports programs and other courses of study in schools and colleges, the law has since been used by judges and agencies to expand a wide range of antidiscrimination policiesmost recently the Obama administrations 2016 mandates on sexual harassment and transgender rights. In this comprehensive review of how Title IX has been implemented, Boston College political science professor R. Shep Melnick analyzes how interpretations of equal educational opportunity have changed over the years. In terms accessible to non-lawyers, Melnick examines how Title IX has become a central part of legal and political campaigns to correct gender stereotypes, not only in academic settings but in society at large. Title IX thus has become a major factor in Americas culture warsand almost certainly will remain so for years to come. **Review Combining meticulous scholarship with graceful writing and a spirit of moderation, Shep Melnick has produced the definitive account of the ongoing transformation of Title IX. The 1972 statutes straightforward, bipartisan ban on sex discrimination has, he explains, been subtly amended by federal judges and administratorswithout seeking public inputto dictate dubious policies, especially on sexual harassment and athletics. Melnick sees reason to hope that returning to a more deliberative rulemaking process may improve the troubling state of regulation under Title IX.Stuart Taylor, Contributing Editor, National Journal Shep Melnickone of our leading scholars of how law, politics, and policy intersecthas done it again. The Transformation of Title IX, like his earlier books, manages to dissect a vital area of American culturehere, Title IX and the civil rights state. By focusing his razor-sharp intelligence on the regulation of college athletics and sexual harassment on campus, Melnick reveals how an overly zealous, trigger-happy agency with an admirable missionthe Department of Educations Office for Civil Rightshas managed to bring it into widespread criticism, disrepute, and even lawlessness. This is institutional analysis at its very best.Peter H. Schuck, Simeon E. Baldwin Professor Emeritus of Law, Yale Law School, and author of One Nation Undecided Clear Thinking about Five Hard Issues That Divide Us For those of us who still pin our hopes on the American civil rights tradition, this book is a disturbing call to account. Melnick unravels the convoluted process by which Title IX became a barrage of mandates detached from any constitutional or statutory roots and oblivious to the laws goal of increasing educational opportunity for women and girls. His smart and compelling critique suggests a way forward follow the Administrative Procedures Act and keep your eyes on the prize.Deborah Stone, Distinguished Visiting Professor, Brandeis University, and author of Policy Paradox The Art of Political Decision Making About the Author R. Shep Melnick is the Thomas P. ONeill, Jr. Professor of American Politics at Boston College and co-chair of the Harvard Program on Constitutional Government. He is the author of two previous Brookings books that combine legal, political, and bureaucratic analysis Regulation and the Courts The Case of the Clean Air Act and Between the Lines Interpreting Welfare Rights.

Author: John V. Fleming File Type: pdf The essays in this volume were presented at a conference honoring John V. Fleming at Princeton University on April 21-22, 2004. The aim of the conference was to revisit Flemings 1977 book, An Introduction to the Franciscan Literature of the Middle Ages, from a number of different perspectives, including social, religious and literary history, as well as art, exegesis, political thought and the history of education. A prominent, but not exclusive, theme of the contributions is the distinction between defenders and critics of medieval Franciscanism. Recent scholarship has shown that the dividing line between medieval defenders and critics of Franciscan life was not as sharp or as clear as had once been thought. This, more nuanced approach to medieval Franciscanism is a reflection of the many scholarly developments that have occurred since - and as a result of - Flemings volume. The present work offers a selection of current approaches to the question.