Essie Berry, a civil rights activist, is demanding a thorough state and federal investigation into Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.
The investigation is centered around allegations that the institution, particularly its President Dr. Dondi E. Costin, Chairperson Dr. Maria Garcia de La Noceda, and reviewer Dr. Renita P. Ellis-Watson, intentionally orchestrated circumstances that caused African American student Alexis Reason to fail academically.
In a press release published on BlackNews.Com, Berry asserts that Alexis was unfairly penalized for exercising her rights as a student.
Alexis, enrolled in Liberty University’s Doctorate of Business Administration program in HR, finds herself under financial suspension for allegedly failing to register for a class that commenced recently.
Berry contends that Liberty University has violated Alexis’s rights, citing Title IX regulations that mandate institutions to address formal complaints seriously.
President Costin’s purported inaction on Alexis’s complaints has drawn criticism from Berry, who asserts that the university has overlooked the severity of the situation.
Despite Berry’s efforts to highlight Alexis’s grievances, she claims that Liberty University has failed to address the matter appropriately.
Berry believes that Alexis’s rights have been infringed upon, noting that the institution’s handling of her complaints raises concerns of retaliation, a violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Berry argues that Liberty University’s response to Alexis’s complaints demonstrates a disregard for her well-being.
She calls for the Department of Education’s intervention, highlighting the failure of due process in protecting Alexis’s educational rights under Title IX.
Berry also raises concerns about Dr. Renita’s conduct, alleging a pattern of mistreatment towards students. She points to previous lawsuits against Dr. Renita during her tenure at DeVry University in 2016, suggesting a history of retaliatory behavior.
Liberty University has faced previous controversies, including a recent $14 million fine imposed by the U.S. Department of Education for Clery Act violations.
These violations, which include inaccuracies in crime statistics and treatment of sexual assault survivors, resulted in the largest fine ever imposed under the Clery Act. As part of the settlement, Liberty agreed to allocate $2 million towards campus safety improvements and compliance measures.
For further inquiries or information regarding Alexis Reason’s allegations, Activist Essie Berry can be contacted at (202) 425-1901 or essieberry54@gmail.com.
