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

["Hotvedt, Carmen" <>]

Colleagues:  Thanks for the recent discussion on Counselor/Pastoral exemptions.  I have a slightly different question.

 

Do any of you have literature or guidance materials on problems with a campus defining ALL employees as Campus Security Authorities?  I have consulted the Clery Reporting Handbook and am clear on what it says—I’m looking for additional materials or examples.    

To further complicate things just for student sexual assault disclosures (which has been determined to mean ANY disclosure of ANY sexual violence, including childhood victimization, that has to be collected for crime stats) University of Wisconsin Schools also have a state statute that states:
WI State Statue 36.11(22)2(c):
“(c) Any person employed at an institution who witnesses a sexual assault on campus or receives a report from a student enrolled in the institution that the student has been sexually assaulted shall report to the dean of students of the institution. The dean of students shall compile reports for the purpose of disseminating statistical information under par. (a) 1. b.”

 

SO—given all this information, this is a very draft policy statement circulating on our campus that has me very concerned--I’d like to respond about why it is absolutely inappropriate to make every employee a CSA.  I am unclear if this draft would imply that CSAs would have different obligations for other crimes than for sexual assault disclosures. 

 

“Any employee of the university is considered a Campus Security Authority, as defined by the Clery Act, and they are required to make a confidential report (victim’s name not included) to the (designated office name) upon a disclosure or first-hand knowledge of an assault. This requirement applies to all university employees, including professional counselors/mental health providers.”    

 

Thoughts?  Resources?  Guidance? 

 

Carmen Hotvedt
Violence Prevention Specialist
University Health Services
UW-Madison

EVOC:  End Violence On Campus
EVOC Change.  EVOC Equality.  EVOC Respect. 
An initiative at UW-Madison to address sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.