The release of records related to sexual harassment and violence cases at the University of California would not have been possible without Title IX, a law passed in 1972 as part of the U.S. Education Amendments signed into law by President Richard Nixon. Title IX says that "no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."

The law passed the U.S. Senate on a bipartisan vote of 88-6. The House followed suit with a vote of 275-125 with 31 abstentions.

The biggest and best-known impact of Title IX has been on women's athletics in high school and college. The law ushered in profound growth of sports programs for girls and women that, before Title IX, were practically invisible under the shadow of athletic opportunities for boys and men. The new law dramatically changed that, to the consternation of some who felt it unfairly punished male sports programs by requiring equal opportunities.

Since then, the law has been used to investigate allegations of sexual harassment and violence at higher education institutions that receive federal funding. Here are some of the highlights in that timeline as it relates to California.