Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

["Paradiso, Barbara" <>]

I am wondering how many of you have struggled with the issue of mandatory 
notification (faculty or staff who have spoken with a survivor must pass the 
name of the survivor and the alleged offender to supervisors or other 
university officials) and the current policy of your institution.  Faculty 
and staff at our University are currently required to report any knowledge of 
sexual harassment or sexual assault to the Sexual Harassment Officer.  

It is our inclination to challenge this position but would like to hear from 
more institutions.  Is mandatory notification a policy you do or do not have 
in place at your University and what is the thinking behind your decision?

Many thanks for your input

Barb

Barbara Paradiso
Director, Program and Center on Domestic Violence
School of Public Affairs
University of Colorado Denver
P.O. Box 173364, CB. 142
1380 Lawrence Street, Suite #440A
Denver, Colorado  80217
Phone: 303-315-2736
Fax: 303-315-2054
PLEASE NOTE NEW EMAIL: 

 
Mission: To end domestic violence by fostering institutional and social 
change through leadership development, education, research, and community 
collaboration.

-----Original Message-----
From: 

 
[mailto:]
 On Behalf Of Thompson, Stephen M.
Sent: Wednesday, September 02, 2009 10:14 AM
To: 

Subject: RE: SAPC Digest, Vol 1271, Issue 1

Many universities and colleges struggle with the issue of mandatory
notification after someone within the university has been made aware of
an alleged incident of sexual aggression.  Mandatory notification means
that whoever speaks with the alleged survivor must pass the name of the
survivor and the alleged offender to supervisors or other university
officials.  This is not a problem if the survivor wants the information
to flow to people other than the individual he/she initially spoke to.
However, if the survivor does not want this information to be passed or
is not ready for it to be passed on to someone else, they are once again
placed into a powerless position.

What needs to be asked when looking at a policy on mandatory
notification is "who does this benefit"? It does not, in any way,
benefit a survivor. Survivors are in a position where they have been out
of control for a period of time.  If they reach out to someone within
the university it is to be listened to and believed.  Many times they
are not ready or willing to deal with any kind of aftermath that would
involve others within the university initiating a contact with the
survivor or the alleged offender.  When survivors have control of the
flow of information they are more likely to seek help. The more
survivors who seek help, the more will want to file formal charges.  The
focus should be on training the points of survivor contact within the
university.  These points should know something about what survivors
experience during an assault, the points should know about listening
skills, they should be taught to never ask a "why" question as it
addresses behavior that cannot be changed, and they should know the
options available to survivors on your campus.  It is important to
suggest the option of reporting, along with medical options and
counseling.  After speaking with a survivor the only information that
needs to be shared with a supervisor is the fact that they are dealing
with a situation.  This will allow the supervisor to check-in with the
staff member to be sure they suggested options and are dealing
appropriately with the situation.

The only time names should be passed up the chain is if there is
imminent threat to others in the case of stalking, or if the Residence
Life person directly witnessed partner violence.  This policy has been
in effect since 1998 at Central Michigan University.  In 1998 Central
Michigan University acknowledged that more survivors would seek help and
report if they had control of the information flow, which includes names
and any specifics of the crime.   This information is only shared if the
survivor gives permission or if the survivor chooses to file a formal
charge.  Until that time, any information given is completely hearsay.
If the survivor gave names and wants to file charges the university
would be acting with deliberate indifference if they did not
investigate.  However, if the survivor does not want to proceed formally
and the university chose to investigate and speak with the "hearsay"
offender without the support and permission of the survivor, the
university would be in a situation where the "hearsay" offenders' rights
could be violated.  Additionally, by the university violating the
confidentiality of the survivor it could put the survivor at risk and
will definitely result in fewer survivors coming forward.

Since the implementation of this policy in 1998 the numbers of survivors
entering the system has gone from 6 to approximately 300 per academic
year.  The numbers of situations that have resulted in formal reports
has increased along with sanctions and criminal charges.  It must be
kept in mind that any information given by the survivor is completely
hearsay until they chose to file an official report. 

Universities must decide if their students' well being is the primary
focus.  To my knowledge there has been no successful litigation
involving a university being sued because they did not act on hearsay
resulting from conversations with survivors or those close to a
survivor.  There definitely could be litigation if they choose to take
action against the wishes and well being of the survivor.  Having the
right to act upon hearsay does not mean it is the right thing to do.


Steve Thompson
Sexual Aggression Services Director
Central Michigan University
SAC 195
Mt. Pleasant, MI. 48859
Phone: 989-774-6677
http://www.stephenmthompson.com
http://www.sapa.cmich.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: 

[mailto:]
 On Behalf Of

Sent: Wednesday, September 02, 2009 12:05 PM
To: 

Subject: SAPC Digest, Vol 1271, Issue 1

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Today's Topics:

   1. anonymous SA reporting 
()
   2. Tucker Max protest information (Juliette Grimmett)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Tue,  1 Sep 2009 12:13:53 -0500 (CDT)
From: 
<>
Subject: anonymous SA reporting
To: 

Message-ID: 
<>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hello, my name is Megan and I am a graduate social work intern with the
Women's Resources Center at the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign.

I am currently doing research for the WRC and the university on
anonymous sexual assault reporting procedures at colleges and
universities.  I am looking for the following:
1.  What procedures are used to ensure anonymity
2.  The benefits and downfalls to this type of reporting
3.  Any statistical information on it's effectiveness in increasing
report rates and making victims feel more comfortable reporting.  

I am having a difficult time finding scholarly articles on this which is
why I am reaching out to the listserv.

Thanks,
Megan Paceley
Women's Resources Center
Graduate Intern


------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:18:59 -0400
From: "Juliette Grimmett" 
<>
Subject: Tucker Max protest information
To: 
<>,
        
<>,
        
<>
Cc: 

Message-ID: 
<>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

Hello all -
 
This is a very important email sent from an amazing student on our
campus about the protest.  Please read this if you are planning a
protest, or considering attending one.  It provides a lot of valuable
insight.  Feel free to conatct either one of us with any questions,
 
Juliette
 
Hello everyone,

A quick introduction before I offer my insights on the Tucker Max
protests. My name is Kris Macomber and I am a sociology instructor at NC
State. Also, for my dissertation research, I'm studying the changing
dynamics of the anti-violence work, focusing on men's increased
involvement and the shift towards professionalization. Many of you know
me as that pesky graduate student at conferences bugging you for an
interview. 
 
I was part of the protest last week and I wouldn't say the protesters
were respected. We got heckled in line by the students waiting to see
the movie. Many of the men in line made fun of us and posed next to us
as their buddies took pictures. Then, on his website, Tucker Max posted
a video and a photo montage where they photo-shopped sexist, crude,
nasty, homophobic, racist, and outright mean things on the signs
protesters were holding. 

Also, beware that he has someone on his crew pose as a grad student
interviewing people about "rape culture." Don't buy it--he is one of
Tucker's cronies trying to get video footage of protesters which they
then edit to their liking. If you would like to see how disrespectful he
is to protesters you can go to his site and see the video and photo
shopped pictures. http://ihopetheyser ;( http://ihopetheyser/ ;)
vebeerinhell. com/30-days- out-here- come-the- protesters/ [Go to the
"Raleigh" link.] 

 
I wanted you to know what you are getting yourselves (and/or your
students into). 
 
Also, I don't think men need "special" thanks for being there. In fact,
we need more men there protesting alongside the brave women.  If you
check out the website, you'll see that the young women caught the brunt
of the backlash.
 
In solidarity,
-Kris
 
 

Are you an NCSU student interested in being a Sexual & Relationship
Violence Peer Educator?  Join The Movement.  www.ncsu.edu/themovement 
 
Juliette Grimmett, MPH
Rape Prevention Education Coordinator
NC State University
Women's Center
3120 Talley Student Center
Campus BOX 7306
Raleigh, NC 27695-7306
Office: (919) 513-3232
24 Hour Sexual Violence Hotline: (919)618-RAPE (7273)
Fax: (919) 515-1066
email: 

 ( http://www.ncsu.edu/womens_center ;) 
PConsider the environment before printing this email or the attachment. 


------------------------------

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