Berkeley High School Student Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Investigation

Former Berkeley High Title IX Coordinator, Dr. Mardi Walters, is speaking out about why she resigned from the position in February 2020, just 8 weeks after the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights began investigating the school for alleged Title IX violations and lack of compliance. In an interview with Berkeleyside, Dr. Walters painted an alarming portrait of institutional neglect at the school, discussing a number of disturbing issues, including lack of confidentiality for students to make complaints, no historical filing system or computer database to track repeat offenders, and not enough funding or resources for a backlog of complaints. Commenting on her view of the situation, Walters added:

“The students really needed help. At BHS, they really, really did. The environment was allowed to be untenable for them.”

As of September 2021, Berkeley High has an interim Title IX coordinator, after cycling through at least one new Title IX coordinator per year, since 2014. While the Department of Education’s investigation brought some changes to the school, such as more training for staff and students, and a full-time investigator, the problem of institutional neglect persists; Walters says she “has a bad feeling about what the future holds” for the students who are continuing to tirelessly push back against the administration and fight for accountability and change.

In February 2020, hundreds of Berkeley High Students staged a walk out, demanding changes to how the school handled reports of sexual misconduct, reports KQED. Ayisha Friedman, one of the walk out organizers, told KQED about how she was constantly seeing people being harassed in the hallways, which she described as “heartbreaking.” Another organizer, Mia Redmond, had just reported her own sexual assault to the school right before the walk out. She said it was a difficult time, but expressed that she was glad students were “coming together and working on something that we really care[d] about.”

In some ways, the walk out marks the culmination of decades of pent-up student frustrations regarding how the school handles reports of assault and harassment. Students have been speaking out and organizing for better policies for years, notably through the grassroots organization “BHS Stop Harassing,” started by Berkeley High alum Liana Thomason in 2014.

A former Berkeley High student filed a lawsuit in June 2021 describing repeated sexual assault and harassment by chemistry and physical education teacher, Matthew Bissell. According to the lawsuit, the district also acted negligently by failing to protect her, despite repeated complaints to school employees. 

The former student told Berkeleyside that Bissell’s unwanted touching and advances began her freshman year in 1999 and continued “nearly every day” until she graduated. Even after telling teachers, coaches, and the athletic director, Bissell’s behavior continued; “at a certain point,” the former student said, “you stop reporting.” She fell into depression and began turning to drugs and alcohol. Even to this day, she says she becomes sick to her stomach thinking about the interactions, and has developed a deep mistrust of others outside of her immediate circle. 

Berkeleyside reports that Berkeley Unified School District began conducting a Title IX investigation and report in 2020 in response to multiple complaints by former Berkeley High students. The investigation concluded that Matthew Bissell had “engaged in a years-long pattern of inappropriate behavior and that his conduct and comments were ‘both severe and pervasive.’” Shortly after, Bissell was placed on leave. Following the release of the report, the former student told the San Francisco Chronicle that: 

 “It felt like I was heard for the first time…I was so pissed that they haven’t figured out a way to make Berkeley High a safe place for its students — period.” 

In an Instagram account, many other Berkeley High students and employees came forward with concerns about Bissell’s conduct, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The concerns ranged from comments regarding students’ clothing, to touching students on the butts, hips, waists, or other areas of the body. 

After Berkeley High yearbook teacher Genevieve Mage called attention to a photo of Bissell inappropriately hugging a student—further opening up investigations into his conduct—more students have since shared their own stories of grooming and assault over Facebook and other forms of social media.

Please know that you’re not alone. There are people ready to listen and help. 

• RAINN National Sexual Assault Survivor Resources 
• National Sexual Violence Resource Center 
• National Sexual Assault Hotline (confidential 24/7 support): 1-800-656-4673 
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 

Our team is always available to answer any legal questions survivors may have about their rights or potential claims. To get a free and confidential consultation, call 1-866-511-6647.