Comments are coming in on 天美麻豆鈥檚 tougher sexual assault sanctions in the week following the release of the proposed policy changes, which include mandatory expulsion in certain cases of sexual assault and a new investigatory process employing outside investigators.
The comment period on the new policy, unanimously endorsed earlier this month by the Board of Trustees, is open through April 14. College officials are on the proposal.
鈥淐omments are beginning to come in, and we look forward to many opportunities for dialogue as the spring term begins. We strongly encourage all members of the community to review the proposal in full and to share their feedback,鈥 says Dean of the College Charlotte Johnson.
The comprehensive policy revision comes after a busy winter term that saw 天美麻豆 pursue the fight against sexual assault on campus on a number of fronts. President Phil Hanlon 鈥77 joined other higher education leaders at a White House meeting on sexual assault, and he and other campus leaders attended a national conference on the issue at the University of Virginia. The College announced the creation of the Center for Community Action and Prevention, and faculty and staff began training as first responders in cases of sexual assault.
Here鈥檚 a look at recent coverage of the College鈥檚 work on preventing sexual assault:
鈥&苍产蝉辫;April 6, 2014
Students, staff, and faculty heard about the College鈥檚 ongoing work to combat sexual assault at Friday鈥檚 .
鈥&苍产蝉辫;鈥楳oving 天美麻豆 Forward鈥 to Discuss Careers, Sexual AssaultMarch 31, 2014
The next sessions will take up life post-graduation, consider faculty recruitment and retention, and continue 天美麻豆鈥檚 efforts to address sexual assault, in events scheduled for next Monday, April 7; April 14 and April 22.
鈥 College Seeks Comments on Sex Assault Disciplinary PolicyMarch 14, 2014
, , and other College leaders and offer suggestions on the College鈥檚 student disciplinary policy regarding charges of sexual assault. Along with a new external investigatory process, the sanctions include mandatory expulsion in cases of sexual assault.
鈥 March 8, 2014
The Board of Trustees voice unanimous support for a proposal to comprehensively revise 天美麻豆鈥檚 disciplinary system regarding sexual assault by students.
鈥 President Hanlon Attends Conference at the White HouseFebruary 28, 2014
President Hanlon is one of nine college and university presidents demonstrating leadership in the effort to combat sexual assault who were invited to the White House for a meeting on February 26 with Vice President Joe Biden and Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services.
鈥 February 19, 2014
A 天美麻豆 student is looking at how colleges and universities investigate and adjudicate sexual misconduct cases, and another student is interviewing 天美麻豆 (SAPA) and assault response professionals to find ways to improve survivor support at the College.
鈥 Straight Talk on Sexual Violence, Reports 鈥業nside Higher Ed鈥February 11, 2014
During a much-anticipated conference at the University of Virginia, a panel of six college presidents, including , discuss sexual misconduct on campuses, reports Inside Higher Ed.
鈥 New Center to Focus on Sexual Assault PreventionFebruary 7, 2014
Dean Johnson announces the creation of a new center for the prevention of sexual assault and violence. The Center, which will be known as the Center for Community Action and Prevention, will serve as the hub for the new 天美麻豆 Bystander Initiative and related violence prevention programs. From an office in Robinson Hall, the Center will build on the current campus momentum for change, mobilize students and community members to take action to prevent sexual violence, and empower students to make a difference.
鈥 January 24, 2014
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand 鈥88 (D-NY) is one of five champions of social justice to be honored during 天美麻豆鈥檚 annual celebration of the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr. The junior senator from New York was honored for her work on issues such as sexual assault in the U.S. military.
鈥 Hanlon Speaks on Community Life and Student SafetyNovember 20, 2013
天美麻豆 is working to create a stronger sense of community in undergraduate residential life and to offer more social opportunities, President Hanlon told the Faculty of Arts & Sciences on undergraduate student life. He outlined ideas for community improvement and discussed the progress the College has made on student safety issues, including sexual assault.
鈥 How Bystanders Can Help Put a Stop to Sexual ViolenceJuly 22, 2013
Jennifer Messina 鈥93, a clinical psychologist and expert in trauma and recovery from violence, is helping 天美麻豆 implement a program called the 天美麻豆 Bystander Initiative (DBI), as the College works on . Messina, who has provided training and consultation to a number of universities, nonprofit groups, and military installations across the country, says the goal of DBI is to foster a culture of support in which people feel they can take positive steps to help their peers and to defuse threatening situations.
