On Friday, a year after the #MeToo movement brought sexual misconduct to the American spotlight, a panel updated interested alumnae on the University’s sexual misconduct and Title IX policies, as part of the “She Roars” conference.
Vice Provost for Institutional Equity and Diversity Michele Minter, Director of Title IX Administration Regan Hunt Crotty ’00, and Director of the Sexual Harassment/Assault, Advising, Resources, and Education Office Jackie M. Deitch-Stackhouse, spoke about the roles of their offices, campus prevention strategies, and disciplinary measures.
“This is a very complicated moment in terms of talking about sexual misconduct in our country,” noted Minter, to open the panel. She added that any audience member should feel free to take a break should they become uncomfortable at any time. Minter also explained that the University made extensive changes to its policies regarding sexual misconduct in 2014.
“If you were on campus prior to 2014, the experience you would have had is quite different than what our students experience now,” she noted.
Deitch-Stackhouse then spoke about the evolution of the SHARE office. She told the audience that, particularly in the last seven years, the office has “grown both in scope and in size” as a space for survivors.
One of SHARE’s newest policies is required online training courses for first-year students, with course registration placed on hold if uncompleted.
Deitch-Stackhouse stated she is “very proud” of SHARE’s programming, adding that the University of Pennsylvania has modeled their policies on the University’s, with other Ivies looking to follow as well.
The SHARE office is also building relationships with spaces across campus and the community, working closely with varsity athletics and eating clubs, Deitch-Stackhouse added.
She described her job and those of the other panelists as “dipping their toes into restorative justice.”
She went on to discuss some specific highlights regarding the University’s policy towards sexual assault during the past years. This includes the prevention and health promotion campaign ‘UMatter.’
Asked about the culture of heavy drinking in the eating clubs and its potential effect on consent, Deitch-Stackhouse pointed to student-initiated consent pledges at the eating clubs. As these pledges are suggested and approved by members, she expects the students to be aware of their commitment. She also explained that there are sober officers on duty every night.
Minter took back the microphone to speak about the prevalence of sexual misconduct on campus, which is about on par with college campuses across the country. For the past three years, the University has conducted an annual “We Speak” survey to gather information about these incidents.
“We are not happy about the prevalence of the numbers, but we are happy about the awareness of resources and positive movement,” Minter said.
Crotty then briefly discussed Title IX procedures, noting that there is no hearing process or meeting between the individuals in the case.
“Any barrier to this process, we want to eliminate or reduce,” explained Crotty. “If people don’t think this is a fair process, people are not going to come to us.”
“I think every single one [cases] breaks my heart, and then you remember they’re 20 years old,” she added, speaking more personally.
Audience members Paola Scarpellini Crotts ’82 and Hope Blackburn ’81 commented on how the timeliness of this issue drew them to the panel.
“The recent change in what the government will mandate or not, giving universities more leeway to interpretation, has me worried,” Crotts said.
“And also the fear of rolling back to where we used to be,” Blackburn added.
The panel was held in Maeder Auditorium on Friday, Oct. 5, at 3 p.m.
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