I agree with Carmen's concerns. I would also add that saying everyone is a CSA would require due diligence to train everyone, including new employees thoughtfully. The name aspect is of particular issue on many campuses right now, as survivors are often
who we have awareness about, not perpetrators. Without training as well, employees on college campuses could be scapegoated for not complying when they don't know their obligation and to whom. They also don't know how to use discretion at times and can just
send a lot of info to many different people, affecting the students' confidentiality.
Lauren (LB) Bernstein, LMSW
Assistant Director for the Respect Program, Office of Health Promotion
Emory University Student Health & Counseling Services
Division of Campus Life
404.727.1514 |
The Respect Program engages the Emory community to prevent and respond to sexual assault and relationship violence.
On Aug 23, 2013, at 7:28 PM, "Hotvedt, Carmen" <> wrote:
Aside from the insurmountable task of training and notifying the thousands of employees, for which we have no system in place at present, here were a few thoughts:
-under the "once a CSA, always a CSA" rule, a student employee who is a dishwasher would have to report his or her friend's experiences disclosed in conversation. There are thousands of student employees in addition to the thousands of faculty and staff
who may only work 5 hours/week. Washing dishes 5 hours a week, in my mind, in and of itself, does not make someone a CSA
-we also have a state mandate making all university employees child abuse reporters, and though training efforts were developed, no tracking or monitoring is happening campus-wide, raising concerns about the training and notification employees would receive
-even with training of key student services staff at present, victim names are being reported, compelling investigations that are not requested by the victim
-our state statute has been interpreted to require reporters to determine if the assault is 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th degree assault though Clery CSAs are not to be making determinations about crimes (unless they are law enforcement)
-it creates a climate of victims feeling that any mention of their experience to friends, as part of a course discussion, and/or on a survivor speak out, will be reported if an employee witnesses those events
-it does not exclude those the handbook clearly excludes (faculty without other campus obligations and clerical/cafeteria staff)
I hope that's helpful start--
CJ
On Aug 23, 2013, at 6:07 PM, "Brett Sokolow" <> wrote:
What is your thinking, Carmen, for why making every employee a CSA is inappropriate?
Brett A. Sokolow, Esq.
President & CEO, The NCHERM Group, LLC.
Executive Director, NABITA
Executive Director, ATIXA
610.993.0229
On Aug 23, 2013, at 6:53 PM, "Hotvedt, Carmen" <> wrote:
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.
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