Mountainview State Task Force on Sexual Violence Prevention and Education

Presentation by: Maegan Ballard, Sarah Robinson, Chelsea Sepolio, and Kelsey Yadon

       Key Assumptions Task Force Members Task Force Mission Statement Prevention ◦ Safety precautions Education ◦ Orientation ◦ ◦ Support ◦ Supporting the physical, academic, emotional, and long-term wellbeing of survivors Justice ◦ Task Force Roles in the Conduct Process ◦ April Awareness Week On-going campus efforts  Social Media Campaign Ensuring the rights of:  Victims  Accused and falsely accused

Presentation Outline

    Public land grant university Student Population: ◦ 21,252 students total ◦ 7,000 students on campus 85% of students are between the ages of 18-24 University operated Public Safety department    Situated in the rural south Dry campus/wet county Culture ◦ Drinking is a social activity ◦ A bar district is in close proximity to the campus

Key Assumptions



The mission of Tiger Task Force is to provide support and advocacy for victims of sexual violence, develop prevention programs on campus, and build a safe community for the students of Mountainview State University. To accomplish this, the Tiger Task Force will:

◦ Educate the community on sexual violence and bystander intervention techniques ◦ ◦ Accommodate the physical, emotional, and academic and long term needs of survivors Ensure that the rights of those accused of sexual violence and those who survive sexual assault are met

Mission Statement

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Campus Safety Measures:

◦ Campus Blue Lights - MSU has strategically installed blue-lighted call centers across the campus. Student can directly call the Public Safety phone number and ask for assistance.

◦ ◦ Tiger Walk - When a student calls (555) 555 1234, they will be in contact with a Tiger Walker. Tiger Walkers are contracted security guards, available from 7pm-6am each day. Students can request that Tiger Walkers escort them from place to place on the MSU campus.

Campus Text Alerts - Text messages sent out as a timely warning if a sexual assault takes place on campus.

Prevention

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The Tiger Talk smartphone application

◦ ◦ ◦ This app allows students to choose a group of five people to have as emergency contacts.

With this app, users can click on buttons that automatically alert the five people that the user needs an interruption or a ride home. The app also alerts the group to the user’s location.

This app can be accessed through the MSU app, an app package available to all MSU students and staff, at no cost to themselves.

Ashley Fred

Prevention

Bob Sean Alice

Prevention

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Bystander Intervention Training seminars

◦ Offered periodically throughout the year and are open to all students, faculty, and staff members ◦ ◦ ◦ Tactics included in the training:  Turning on the lights at a party  Pulling aside an intoxicated friend and helping them leave the party early Bystander Intervention techniques used in these seminars are meant for everyone to use, regardless of their conflict mediation skill level.

Bystander Intervention Training places the responsibility for safety on multiple shoulders, not just the male or female in danger.

Education

Education

 Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Week ◦

Take Back the Night

Walk – Led by the student group, the march occurs to represent the safe solidarity of women as they march together in the night ◦

My Little Black Dress

Does Not Mean Yes – Women wear black dresses and men wear dressy attire to challenge the myth that women are “asking for it”.

   

Events continued Day of Silence –

Participating students spend the work day in unified silence against sexual assault. They are encouraged to wear a teal t-shirt, the color associated with sexual assault causes.

Speak Now: Survivors Tell

Their Stories – Sexual assault survivors voluntarily tell their truth: what they lived through and how they are healing.

Blurred Lines: Parody Video Contest Showcase –

The campus and community are invited to view submissions of parody videos that address “rape culture” and how they plan to combat it.

Education

Communication Connection Contests Collaboration

Education

Encouraging Reporting

Response & Reporting Guide will answer questions including:         What is sexual assault?

What is consent?

Is it assault if I know the person?

What do I do if I am assaulted?

Should I go to the hospital?

Should I call the police? Where can I get help?

What are my options?

Photo credit: University of California, Los Angeles  Do I have to file charges?

Support

Survivor Support

Photo credit: Wesleyan University

Support

◦

Immediate/physical needs:

   Emergency medical attention Physical injury Pregnancy/STD prevention ◦

Psychological/emotional needs:

 Utilize on campus counseling center   Override counseling limitations for survivors of sexual assault. Adlerian art therapy

Survivor Support

◦ Academic needs – sexual assault survivors will:  Be allowed to medically withdraw from courses  Be considered full time at nine hours  Be closely monitored for continued academic success ◦

Long-term needs:

 Provide “secondary survivors” with counseling  Assign counselor to each sexual assault survivor for continued monitoring throughout academic career  Development of “Survivors of Sexual Assault” handbook to be distributed to survivors and family members

Support

Photo credit: Carleton University

All conduct measures are based on the guidelines set forth by:

◦ Title IX ◦ ◦ The Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights “Dear Colleague” letter recommendations Violence Against Women Act 

Additionally, the task force seeks to inform its policies by the best practices of other colleges and universities

Justice – Precedence

Justice- Task Force Roles

Step 1: INVESTIGATION. Title IX Coordinator will interview the accused and any witnesses involved. This step is to gather facts and information. Step2: ADJUDICATING THE CASE. The hearing board will be made up of the Task Force members. Both parties are allowed to bring an advisor however, the advisor may not speak throughout the duration of the hearing. Both accused and survivor will be allowed to make statement, present evidence and ask questions. Step 3: SANCTIONING. After the hearing, the hearing board comes to an agreement of an appropriate sanction depending on the severity of the violence committed or if a sexual violence was committed at all.

Justice- Conduct Process

Photo credit: Oberlin College

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Rights of the Survivor/Accuser

◦ Confidentiality- the information shared and paperwork processed will only been seen by Task Force Members ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Campus Support Free counseling sessions and support resources provided by university officials Academic Leave Survivors can take reasonable leave from academic work coordinated by Academic Advising Coordinator Housing Relocation Housing Director will move survivor immediately Pressing chargers Survivors shall be made aware of the options to • • • • •

Rights of Both

To assure the rights of those accused, both the accuser and accused may provide evidence, present any witnesses, and make a statement during the trial.

Both parties have the right to an impartial trial, investigated by the Title IX Coordinator The trial will occur in a timely manner, 3-10 days If English is not their first language or hearing impaired, both have a right to an interpreter Right to have case heard by administrator instead of full hearing board if both parties agree

Justice- Rights

◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ 

Rights of the Accused

Respect- Right to be treated with respect before, during and after conduct process Possible Outcomes Accused will be made aware of possible sanctions based on allegations Advisor- Accused may have one advisor during the conduct process. The advisor can sit in on meeting but may not speak during hearings. FERPA- University officials will uphold regulations and confidentiality as outlined in FERPA Questions- Accused has the right to ask questions to Task Force Team and witnesses during the hearing Timely notice- Accused has the right to be provided with a timely notice concerning their hearing date

Student Handbook 2013-2014   The University’s definition of consent will be outlined in the student handbook and Response & Reporting Guide, which every student receives upon enrollment. Consent must be given by each person each time sexual activity occurs. Previous sexual encounters, no matter how numerous, do not invalidate the need for consent. Consent must be given for every sexual encounter.

Mountainview State defines sexual violence as sexual contact, including but not limited to, touching, penetration, or abuse without consent

◦ ◦ ◦ Consent has not been obtained if individual: ◦ Is under the influence of drugs or alcohol which could affect judgment ◦ Is forced or pressured Is under 16 years of age. If any younger than 16, individual cannot legally give consent At any point changes their mind and wants to stop engaging in the activity Has been in a relationship or previous relationships with accused. ◦ ◦ Feels threatened or coerced Has said “no”, “I’m not sure” or “I don’t know” ◦ Consent has only been obtained if individual: ◦ Uses non-verbal cues such as a head nod, failure to resist, silence or any hint of uncertainty Says “YES!”

Justice- Defining Consent

Five Year Plan

     Year One Goal – To implement educational, preventative, and supportive programming for all students at MSU Year Two Goal – To establish a student organization focusing on sexual assault prevention Year Three Goal – To educate community members about sexual assault via community outreach programs Year Four Goal – To seek funding via grants, donations, and fundraising for the creation of a on-campus center for sexual assault education, prevention, and support. Year Five Goal – To establish a dedicated on-campus center for sexual assault education, prevention, and support

Looking Forward

Barry, D., & Cell, P. (2009). Campus sexual assault response teams. Kingston, NJ: Civic Research Institute, Inc.

Green, A. E., Potts, D., Treichler, P. A., & Levy, A. Association's Committee on Women in the Academic Profession and its Subcommittee on Sexual Assault on Campus, (2013). Campus sexual assault: Suggested policies and procedures Evans, N. J., Forney, D. S., Guido, F. M., Patton, L. D., & Renn, K. A. (2010). Student development in college: Theory, research, and practice. (2nd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Rosen Saltzman, M., Matic, M., & Marsden, E. (2013). Adlerian art therapy with sexual abuse and assault survivors. Journal of Individual Psychology,69(3), 223-244.

Winerup, M. (2014, February 07). Stepping up to stop sexual assault. The New York Times .

References