Olivia Russo
News Editor
Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for length
Chadwick Best was named the University of La Verne Title IX Coordinator in February 2025.
Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools and colleges that receive federal funding. It is most frequently applied in cases of sexual harassment and assault and in athletic programs for which the law calls for equal funding and resources between men’s and women’s sports.
Stalking, domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual violence and any type of harassment on campuss are prohibited under Title IX. The law can also come into play for those who have other types of unequal treatment in the school setting based on gender and sexual orientation.
For the University of La Verne, reports may come from both on-campus and off-campus, but the latter may not receive a formal investigation because Title IX focuses specifically on on-campus misconduct.
Best was born in Michigan and completed his education in state, earning his Juris Doctor at the University of Detroit’s Mercy School of Law.
His first job as a lawyer took him to North Dakota, where he moved from tax law to the state’s Department of Labor and Human Rights and where he realized he liked to advocate for vulnerable populations.
He eventually focused on Title IX with positions at Arizona State University, the University of Miami, and University of Texas before landing at ULV.
As Title IX coordinator, he said he conducts formal or informal investigations once a complaint is filed.
For the formal process Best said he will meet with both sides and then hire an outside investigator, which will lead to a public hearing where a panel will give a verdict on the best outcome for the parties involved.
In an informal situation, he said, there will be no hearing or trial, but an investigation and then a decision from both parties on how to move forward. Certain issues cannot be dealt with a simple informal hearing, such as sexual assault, but a majority of complaints may be resolved informally.
Last month Best shared his thoughts about his Title IX work, what led him to the University and his concerns about how the Trump administration could erode Title IX protections, in an interview with Campus Times News Editor Olivia Russo.
Olivia Russo: What is the process after receiving a Title IX complaint?
Chadwick Best: Assuming that we have a formal complaint and they wanted an investigation, we would get what they experienced and then we would then meet with an alleged offender, we would get their experience and then deal with witnesses or whatnot and draft up a report.
OR: How long does this take?
CB: The policy states that it can take up to 120 days. But there’s a lot of built-in timelines in the actual policy. And it’s not a hard-and-fast rule. There are instances when it might go over that.
OR: Does that timeline change based on different situations?
CB: Our policy doesn’t really provide for a separate process, for things that would follow outside of Title IX. Regardless of the institution, if there’s one element that is Title IX then you’re going to follow the Title IX process.
OR: What is the procedure after you receive an initial report?
CB: I can receive a report from a responsible party that would be any employee that works for the University. I would invite you to meet with me. We would just talk about the process and what’s required, we then notice the respondent. I would put in a request for an investigator. And for a formal process or an informal resolution, it just depends on both parties agreeing to that and the egregiousness of the allegation because I would also need to sign off on it.
OR: How do you make sure that someone feels comfortable enough to talk about what they experienced if they didn’t come to you themselves?
CB: Sometimes they won’t respond and that’s okay. In the letter that we send out to an individual, we just let them know there’s certain things you’re entitled to, even if you don’t file a complaint. That could be a “no contact order” for someone, changing classes, changing dorm rooms.
OR: If they meet with you and decide they don’t actually want to file a complaint, what happens from there?
CB: I would just let them know that I was going to close it out and I would confirm that. At that point, it just stays in our database. So just because they choose, let’s say today, not to do anything, that doesn’t change they could come back in a year or two.
OR: What happens if somebody has multiple Title IX complaints against them?
CB: If it continues to be a problem, the hearing panel, when they’re evaluating all that, they’re the ones that also determine the sanctions that are imposed. So they can look at the egregiousness of the situations.
OR: How do you manage to stay calm despite sometimes intense emotions in the room?
CB: Whether talking to a complainant, or when I am meeting with a respondent, that obviously can be anxiety producing. But for me, what keeps me grounded is one of the appeal bases in this process is whether or not there was bias in the process. I can’t really think of anything worse than someone coming forward, going through the process, it’s determined that there’s a violation and then there’s an appeal, and it ends up being overturned because of some bias in the process.
OR: Has there been any changes in your application of Title IX since the change in presidential administration?
CB: In August of 2020, there were new Title IX regulations that were put in by the first term Trump Administration. So I became very familiar with those, those are what are in play. I haven’t noticed an impact at this point with regard to Title IX, because we’re using the same ranks that were in place when he was here the first time.
OR: If there was a change, how would you go about adjusting the process?
CB: We have an obligation to follow laws. So if there are changes that are required, then we would need to adjust our policy appropriately at the time.
OR: Have you had conversations about prospective policy changes and what you would do as a team to work with these?
CB: Not as of yet. And it’s probably just because I’ve not been here a super-long time. Let’s say that I hear something might be coming down the pipeline, the process for me would be to engage with legal counsel, to ensure that we are complying in the way that we need to comply.
OR: What made you choose La Verne?
CB: I have this whole system that I did. It needed to be a place that I would find interesting. I like climate to be warm. And I wanted a place that has a history of knowing who they are as an institution. And it seemed like they had principles that are guiding them through the years.
OR: What is your primary goal here?
CB: I want to leave it in a better place than it was. I don’t mean to be critical of anyone of the past, I would think anybody would want to improve things for the better. Part of what I’ve been doing when I meet with people is trying to understand the previous interactions with the department, what worked and what didn’t. At the end of the day, I think for a complainant or respondent going through the process, they want to feel like they have someone they can help guide them.
OR: Have you had any challenges in adjusting to this University?
CB: Policy guides me. I can’t say that there’s been anything that’s been particularly difficult or that specific individual did that impacted my ability to learn the role. I’m still learning the role.
OR: What do you want people to know about Title IX?
CB: I think the biggest thing that we want them to know is that there is a process that’s here. On the other side of the equation, there’s a process that has due process. Both sides can get supportive measures.
To learn more about your rights under Title IX, visit laverne.edu/title-ix.
To file a Title IX complaint, email Title9Coordinator@laverne.edu.
If you are in imminent danger, contact Campus Safety at 909-448-4950, or dial 911.
Olivia Russo can be reached at olivia.russo@laverne.edu.
Olivia Russo is a senior journalism major with a concentration in print/online journalism and a minor in criminology. She is the Editor-in-Chief for the Campus Times for Spring 2026. She has previously served as the News Editor, LV Life Editor, a photographer and a staff writer for the Campus Times, as well as a staff writer and photographer for La Verne Magazine.
