Final answer:
A professor or staff member must report to Title IX if they are informed of a violation, even if the information is secondhand, to ensure compliance with laws prohibiting gender discrimination in educational programs.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, a professor or staff member must report to Title IX if there is a violation that they have been informed of, even if it is secondhand. This stems from the requirement that educational institutions take proactive steps to ensure a safe and nondiscriminatory environment for all students and staff. Failure to report can result in legal liability for the institution. Title IX clearly bans gender discrimination in any educational program or activity that receives federal funding and has been instrumental in expanding the rights and opportunities for women and other marginalized genders within education since its implementation in 1972.