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

["Torres-Zickler, Alina M." <>]

Hello all – No Contact Directives are often requested by complainants on our campus and we use them frequently without much issue (they are applied to no contact from either the accused or the complainant). Recently we have seen patterns with complainants of dating violence ( as well as other types of sexual misconduct) that because of the complicated nature of the relationship the complainant will send an email or a text message after the No Contact Directive is in place.

 

There are those on my campus that think any violation of the No Contact Directive should result in immediate suspension, even for the complainant. My argument is that by having a trauma informed lens we need to think twice about the chilling effect this could create and that the resulting sanction of violating the No Contact Directive should fit the level of the violation. Did they send a “hello” text or did they threaten violence?

 

I’m being told a violation is violation and both parties should be immediately suspended if they violate the directive-  even for a single text message or email. I believe the violation should be evaluated by severity of the violation.

 

Anyone have this experience with No Contact Directives? How have you handled violations?

-Alina

 

Alina Torres-Zickler

Assistant Director

Office of Social Equity

West Chester University

Ph. 610.436.2838

Email:

 

Be kind, for everyone is fighting their own quiet battle. - Cicero