Commitee seeks change to sexual abuse policy
Katie Scharber
Issue date: 4/27/07 Section: News
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After four meetings over the past several months, the Sexual Abuse Policy Review Committee voted Wednesday to support three changes to the University's Sexual Misconduct Policy, which will strengthen the language of the policy and more clearly outline sanctions for sexual misconduct.
The first change will use stronger language at the beginning of the Sexual Misconduct Policy to state explicitly that the University stands against sexual misconduct.
The second change will make explicit in the policy that at minimum, a student found responsible for rape will be suspended until the victim graduates, and the student may potentially be dismissed, said Brian Chinchar, committee co-chair.
The third change would be that in a finding of sexual assault, the student may be suspended. If a suspension is too harsh, there's a much greater list of sanctions that can be brought against the student, said Chinchar. "Sexual assault can cover a great deal of issues."
The policy changes will create a more structured approach to sanctions against students found guilty, said Chinchar. "For rape, it's suspension or worse, and for sexual assault it's suspension or something less. That kind of creates a bright line, and really the regulations hadn't been clearly laid out."
A working group from within the committee will resolve the final wording of the changes. A final vote to approve the wording will take place within the next two weeks, then the recommendations will be sent to Sue Weitz, vice president of student life.
The policy will be examined by a third party who specializes in crafting sexual policy conduct guides for universities. Once the wording is approved for legal considerations, "it'll be sent up the ladder for a decision to be made about its inclusion in next year's student conduct guide," said Chinchar.
Commitee members are seniors Chinchar and Sam Ackels, sophomore Jim Murphy, freshman Julia Esser, assistant English professor Patsy Fowler, associate professor of sociology Jane Rinehart, dean of student formation Fr. Steve Hess, S.J., and Weitz. Rinehart was absent from the meeting on Wednesday, but the vote was unanimous among the seven present on each of the three changes.
The committee was formed by Weitz in response to student concern voiced last semester over the University's sexual misconduct policy. Weitz asked Chinchar to co-chair the committee and they gathered members representing "a broad cross-section" of student and faculty interests.
In their meetings, the committee has heard advice from Jeff Hart, director of security; Theresa Schinzel, sexual assault and harm prevention coordinator; Victoria Loveland, equal opportunity officer, and Mike Casey, the University's corporate counsel. n
The first change will use stronger language at the beginning of the Sexual Misconduct Policy to state explicitly that the University stands against sexual misconduct.
The second change will make explicit in the policy that at minimum, a student found responsible for rape will be suspended until the victim graduates, and the student may potentially be dismissed, said Brian Chinchar, committee co-chair.
The third change would be that in a finding of sexual assault, the student may be suspended. If a suspension is too harsh, there's a much greater list of sanctions that can be brought against the student, said Chinchar. "Sexual assault can cover a great deal of issues."
The policy changes will create a more structured approach to sanctions against students found guilty, said Chinchar. "For rape, it's suspension or worse, and for sexual assault it's suspension or something less. That kind of creates a bright line, and really the regulations hadn't been clearly laid out."
A working group from within the committee will resolve the final wording of the changes. A final vote to approve the wording will take place within the next two weeks, then the recommendations will be sent to Sue Weitz, vice president of student life.
The policy will be examined by a third party who specializes in crafting sexual policy conduct guides for universities. Once the wording is approved for legal considerations, "it'll be sent up the ladder for a decision to be made about its inclusion in next year's student conduct guide," said Chinchar.
Commitee members are seniors Chinchar and Sam Ackels, sophomore Jim Murphy, freshman Julia Esser, assistant English professor Patsy Fowler, associate professor of sociology Jane Rinehart, dean of student formation Fr. Steve Hess, S.J., and Weitz. Rinehart was absent from the meeting on Wednesday, but the vote was unanimous among the seven present on each of the three changes.
The committee was formed by Weitz in response to student concern voiced last semester over the University's sexual misconduct policy. Weitz asked Chinchar to co-chair the committee and they gathered members representing "a broad cross-section" of student and faculty interests.
In their meetings, the committee has heard advice from Jeff Hart, director of security; Theresa Schinzel, sexual assault and harm prevention coordinator; Victoria Loveland, equal opportunity officer, and Mike Casey, the University's corporate counsel. n