Volume 128 Issue 118
Monday, May 4, 2015
kansan.com
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
The student voice since 1904
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March closes Sexual Assault Awareness Month, gives voice to advocates
RILEY MORTENSEN/KANSAN
RILEY MORTENSEN
@RileyMortensen
On the last night of April students, staff, faculty and community members gathered to "Take Back the Night" and march in solidarity against sexual assault in an event hosted by the GaDuGi SafeCenter. The event was one of the cap off events to Sexual Assault Awareness and
Prevention Month.
The crowd of about 50 participants trekked from the Kansas Union to South Park around 7 p.m. last Thursday, chanting phrases like "Survivors unite, take back the night," and walking with a number of signs.
"I hope that this shows campus and community alike that there are people out there in our community
who care about this issue and care about survivors and we're going to keep this work going. We're not going anywhere," said Rachel Gadd-Nelson, GaDuGi's director of community engagement.
Once participants reached the park, tables of other advocate services like Headquarters Counseling Center along with GaDuGi were available for participants.
"I hope that this shows campus and community alike that there are people out there in our community who care about this issue and care about survivors..."
RACHEL GADD-NELSON
GaDuGi Director of
Community Engagement
The event continued with guest speakers who told their own stories, a song in honor of C.J. Brunn, a local activist who recently passed, and a speak out circle where survivors had the opportunity to talk about their experiences in a safe space among supporters.
Bailey Fee, a junior from Kansas City, said the whole evening was very moving and the speakers really inspired
her.
"Sometimes it's hard to tell the people you're closest to," Fee said. "Let alone this many strangers."
Fee said if there was one thing she could tell others about sexual assault it would be that it could happen to anyone, anyone could do it to you and you don't have to be quiet about it.
— Edited by Kelsi Kirwin
RILEY MORTENSEN/KANSAN
The Chancellor's Sexual Assault Task Force released recommendations Friday afternoon to the Chancellor and Provost.
Sexual Assault Task Force releases recommendations
RILEY MORTENSEN
@RileyMortensen
Developing an on-campus sexual assault response team and a center for prevention and education were among top recommendations presented by the Chancellor's Sexual Assault Task Force to the Chancellor and Provost on Friday afternoon.
The recommendations are divided into four sections: policy and process improvement; prevention and practices; support and advocacy for student victims of crime; and evaluation of the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
The task force of 11 students, staff and faculty members has been reviewing the University's current processes, procedures and policies since September, when Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little created the group.
Gray-Little thanked the task force for the many hours of work and thought they put into the recommendations and said they will all be taken into consideration.
"It's not something that we would solve next year or the year after and then it's not an issue," Gray-Little said.
The 43-page final report has an executive summary at the beginning that outlines eight recommendations under policy and process improvements, 11 recommendations under prevention practices, six recommendations under the support and advocacy for student victims of the crime and two recommendations under evaluation of Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
Other specific recommendations noted
SEE TASK FORCE PAGE 2
Overloaded business school sees enrollment trouble
ALLISON CRIST
@AllisonCristUDK
As students continue to enroll for next year, some—particularly business majors—are finding it hard to take the classes they need to.
Georgiana Spear, associate director of Student & Academic Services in the School of Business, said this is a common issue among some of the core business classes.
"There are several classes like that in core, that only have one offering each semester," Spear
said, "I think the main reason is due to the volume of students and faculty availability"
The volume of students has definitely grown over the years, with a 49 percent increase in undergraduate business students since fall of 2012, said Austin Falley, director of communications for the School of Business.
"Since we've noticed the growth pattern, we're bringing on five new professors in the fall," Falley said. "The new buildings for the business school will also add extra
square footage, allowing for more sections."
"Two of the classes that I need are at the same time, without any alternative options," Thompson said.
WillThompson, a sophomore from Lawrence, said some of the classes he's required to take in order to declare his business major on time are only offered at one time.
Like many students, Thompson works off-campus throughout the week, making
SEE B-SCHOOL PAGE 2
Appeals Court affirms lower court ruling in Bavel case
The Kansas Court of Appeals stood with lower courts in a ruling in the case of Zami Bavel, a University professor who was accused of sexual harassment in 2011.
In 2011, a student accused Zamir Bavel, a professor of Information Processing Studies at the University, of groping her during a study session at a restaurant. Bavel sued the University in 2012, claiming he was not provided due process before the Faculty Rights Board made its decision in the case. Bavel has not been proven guilty, and the Faculty Rights Board cannot make that charge.
Bavel took the case to a district court, arguing the burden of proof should be on the University, not on himself. The district court said the University had upheld its own policies and procedures and had not violated Bavel's rights.
"We are heartened by the strong dissenting opinion, however, and we are considering our options what they may be at this point."
CURTIS BARNHILL
Zamir Bavel's attourney
In July 2011, an investigation concluded there was enough substantial evidence to support the allegation against Bavel. Bavel requested a hearing before the Faculty Rights Board, alleging the University had committed procedural violations in his case.
The Faculty Rights Board concluded there had been no procedural violations and denied Bavel an evidentiary hearing. In March 2012, he was sanctioned for alleged sexual harassment, including being suspended for
Curtis Barnhill. Bavel's attorney, said he and his client were disappointed by the court's decision.
"We are heartened by the strong dissenting opinion, however, and we are considering our options — what they may be — at this point," Barnhill said. "[...] We feel that there are a number of issues, very troubling issues, that are out there in this case."
Judge Anthony J. Powell disagreed with the opinion. In his dissent, he wrote the sanctions against Bavel, including suspension without pay, constitute deprivation of property, and Bavel was not given due process.
Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, a spokesperson for the University, said in an email Thursday, "The court's ruling speaks for itself."
OPINION 4 PUZZLES 6 CLASSIFIEDS 9 A&F 5 SPORTS 10 BREW 9
two weeks without pav.
Two of three judges in the Kansas Court of Appeals sided with the district court in an opinion given on April 10.
- Mackenzie Clark
Don't Forget
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