Our harm, our voice: Why title ix must mandate informal resolution to expand restorative justice access on campus

Title IX enforcement has historically relied on adversarial investigative–adjudicatory models, but for many survivors, these processes are inadequate. Oftentimes, they are not seeking a binary finding, but instead acknowledgment and emotional repair. Restorative justice offers an alternative process that is tailored to the survivor's goals, restoring a sense of control often lost through sexual harm. However, access to restorative justice remains limited. This note proposes that Title IX should require universities to affirmatively offer an informal resolution mechanism in every case of sexual misconduct, expanding access to restorative justice while balancing survivor autonomy with institutional interests.