After initially denying a pregnant student accommodation for her final exams and facing backlash from students, Georgetown University Law Center (GULC) reached an agreement with the student on her accommodations.
Brittany Lovely (LAW ’26) is due to give birth to her first child within the first two weeks of December, which includes the law school’s final exam period, but has an in-person final exam scheduled for Dec. 13. Though Lovely’s professor approved a request to either take the exam early or take it from home so could care for her child, the university initially denied it and said it would be inequitable to other students in her class.
Law students began a petition in support of Lovely Nov. 21, urging the law school to grant Lovely necessary accommodations, before a university spokesperson said in a statement in the evening of Nov. 22 that law school officials had reached an agreement with Lovely.
“Georgetown is committed to providing a caring, supportive environment for pregnant and parenting students,” a university spokesperson wrote to The Hoya. “We have reached a mutually agreeable solution with the student who raised concerns.”
The university spokesperson did not provide further information about the agreement it reached with Lovely, though Lovely told the Washington Post that she had received a deferral from taking her exams until January.
“Georgetown does not publicly comment on the specifics of individual student matters,” the spokesperson wrote.
The law students’ petition rejected Georgetown’s claims that allowing Lovely accommodations would be inequitable.
“We agree that Georgetown’s denial of her requested accommodations is not supported by the students on whose behalf the school claims to deny her,” the petition reads. “The accommodations Brittany requested (taking the exam early when the finals period begins and/or from home just days after giving birth) are reasonable and are not in any way inequitable, nor do they harm my education at Georgetown.”
Max Siegel II (LAW ’25), the president of the Student Bar Association (SBA), the law school’s student government, urged students to sign the petition.
“The administration’s actions fall short of basic human decency, especially given the severe impact this situation could have on Brittany and her newborn child,” Siegel wrote in a statement which SBA posted to Instagram Nov. 22. “Let us demand the respect, compassion, and accommodations she and all pregnant students deserve.”
According to Siegel’s statement and the petition, the university’s response to Lovely’s request, which included the line “Motherhood is not for the faint of heart,” mandated that she complete her exam in person and included additional time to breastfeed during the test.
“Georgetown Law suggested Brittany bring her days-old child to campus a few days after birth, with minimal recovery, to take the exam with more time so she can breastfeed her newborn baby during the exam,” the petition reads.
The petition argues that the university’s treatment of Lovely counts as discrimination based on her pregnancy status, which would be illegal under Title IX, the federal law which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex.
According to Georgetown’s Title IX website, the university includes discrimination against pregnant students in its Title IX process.
“Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities including academic, educational, extracurricular, athletic, and other programs or activities of schools,” the site reads. “This prohibition includes discrimination against pregnant and parenting students.”
Students can request accommodations for pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions through the Office of Title IX Compliance, with specific accommodations — including breaks during class, rescheduling tests or exams, submitting work after a missed deadline or alternatives to make up work — provided on a case-by-case basis.
“Georgetown University is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive environment for pregnant and parenting students,” the site reads. “Students may request adjustments based on general pregnancy needs or accommodations based on a pregnancy-related condition.”
