South Jordan Dental Student Says She Was Punished for Speaking Up, Sues to Switch to Henderson Campus

Yuyang Qiu, a second-year dental student at Roseman University, has filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit against the university and four administrators, accusing them of violating Title VI, Title IX, and 42 U.S.C. § 1981 by disciplining her after she reported a classmate’s behavior that allegedly made the South Jordan, Utah, campus unsafe for minority students and patients. The lawsuit claims her suspension was retaliation rather than justified discipline, and she is seeking a preliminary injunction to transfer to Roseman’s Henderson, Nevada, campus while the case proceeds. According to court filings, Qiu was initially accused of unauthorized treatment on January 9 and given a 27-point action plan, which she refused to sign, leading to her suspension. Two days later, a supervising faculty member evaluated her work and deemed it ‘clinically acceptable,’ contradicting the earlier allegations. Qiu argues the disciplinary action was fabricated, and an administrator was recorded on January 19 stating the other student’s claims ‘may or may not be true,’ with no proof available. Roseman University operates campuses in South Jordan, Utah, and Henderson, Nevada, and emphasizes compliance with federal nondiscrimination laws, including Title VI and Title IX. The university’s College of Dental Medicine is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, and its policies include grievance processes and Title IX coordination. Despite these measures, Qiu’s lawsuit claims the university failed to address her concerns fairly. In her complaint, Qiu requests a preliminary injunction to transfer to the Henderson campus to avoid the disciplinary record’s impact on her licensing, residency applications, and future credentialing. She also seeks removal of the disciplinary record, arguing it could negatively affect her career prospects. The case relies on federal laws protecting against racial and sex-based discrimination in academic settings. Because Roseman receives federal financial assistance, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights oversees compliance with Title VI and Title IX. The lawsuit also cites 42 U.S.C. § 1981, which prohibits racial discrimination in contract enforcement, including academic and professional credentialing decisions. As of publication, Roseman had not issued a public statement on the lawsuit, and no hearing date had been set in federal court.