In the fall of 2018, Juliana Lamar returned to classes at Belmont University's law school just days after having an emergency cesarean section — before she was even able to drive or carry her own books. She didn't have a choice, Lamar tells the Belmont Vision, because she did not receive support from school officials who would not allow her additional approved absences.
Lamar is one of four women who spoke to the university's student news outlet about policies they say discriminate against pregnant students. All four women spoke on the record about their experiences, which are described in detail in the story and summarized up front. The other three, aside from Lamar:
Cecilia Young: A third-year law student, said she did not receive additional absences despite being hospitalized after giving birth. She was diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening condition.Kendall Ponchillia: A third-year law student, who is currently experiencing a high-risk pregnancy, said she was told to schedule medical appointments outside of class time to avoid using up absences despite a note from her doctor. She was also not given spring schedule information and early exams.
Rachel Clifton: A law school graduate said she was initially denied assistance of any kind, including absences for time spent hospitalized, by Belmont’s former Title IX director. She was eventually allowed one accommodation, in that she’d be able to pump breastmilk during exams after two hours had passed, which was granted by law school Associate Dean for Student Services Andy Matthews.
The story is notable on its own because of the questions it raises about the university's attendance and medical accommodation policies. But it also represents a bold piece of journalism by student reporters who operate on much thinner ice than professional news outlets, particularly when they are doing so at a private university.
Belmont officials responded to the Vision's reporting with denials and a rejection of the notion that the attendance policy should be amended in any way.
From the Vision's story:
Provost Thomas Burns said that what the women were actually requesting were exceptions to the attendance policy, and not medical accommodations. The attendance policy, both he and law school Dean Alberto Gonzales said, would not change.Belmont law’s attendance policy bars students from missing more than 15 percent of classes in a course; any student to exceed that amount will automatically fail the class with a grade of "FN."
Rather than change the attendance policy, Burns said the school should find ways to assist pregnant students on a case-by-case basis, which can include additional absences.
“What we need to do is find ways that we can support students and make them successful,” Burns said.
However, the women say that support was not offered to them.
The law school's Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Ellen Black told the Vision that she has "not had an instance where a student has come to me and asked for assistance and I did not provide it." But one of the women who spoke to the Vision describes precisely such an instance.
When contacted for a comment, Belmont College of Law officials responded through a spokesperson. “The accusations reported by the Belmont Vision, a student news outlet, are extremely serious and concerning to all involved," reads a statement "However, these situations are far more complex than what was included in the initial reporting. The College of Law strongly refutes any allegation that the wellbeing of our students is not our number one priority. We are committed to thoroughly reviewing the conflicting accounts of these situations to determine the next appropriate steps and to seek ways to better clarify our commitment to student welfare and success.”
