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8 FOOT 1 FOOT = 3.048 DECIMETERS - 1 YARD = 0.9144 METER MAYES BROTHERS TOOL MFG COMPANY on the level MEANS QUALITY JOHNSON CITY, TENNESSEE MADE IN U.S.A.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 19, 2015 | BACK-TO-SCHOOL | VOLUME 130 ISSUE 1
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University deciding which sexual assault task force recommendations to implement
The University has implemented one of the Sexual Assault Task Force's recommendations, which clarifies the student code. Other suggestions included creating an on-campus sexual assault response team and multiple sexual assault prevention and education programs.
The University plans to consider implementing those and other ideas that the task force recommended in their report in May to improve the campus response to sexual assault. The recommendations are meant to improve current policies and procedures or create solutions that the existing framework doesn't offer.
The Chancellor created the task force in September 2014 in response to allegations that
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So far the only recommendation that has been implemented was a clarification in the student code that the University has jurisdiction over off-campus sexual violence and harassment cases. However, the code has not been clarified to reflect that the University has off-campus jurisdiction regarding domestic violence.
Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, director of news and media relations, said administrators were now deciding which recommendations to implement.
the University had mishandled complaints of sexual assault. The Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights is currently investigating two Title IX complaints at the University.
support would be easily accessible for students.
"I'd like to see continued focus on the issue, not only in terms of administration but also in terms of students," Doan said. "I'd like to see the University be a leader on sexual assault prevention on college campuses."
"Since the report came out,
The recommendations are divided into four categories: policy and procedure improvement; prevention practices; support and advocacy for student victims of crime; and evaluation of code of student rights and responsibilities. They include both long-term and short-term ideas.
University administrators are looking at which ones will be integrated into the work that is already going on to address sexual assault," Barcomb-Peterson said.
Some recommendations are meant to make the reporting and adjudicating process less confusing, such as outlining the procedure for reporting. Others focus on providing resources for victims.
The task force finalized the recommendations after consulting more than 20 campus and community partners and current research on preventing and addressing sexual assault.
Alesha Doan, the former co-chair of the task force, said the University could feasibly begin implementing short- and long-term steps this academic year, including drafting a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, with GaDGi SafeCenter and the Willow Domestic Violence Center, or looking into evidence-based prevention programs. The MOU would create a formal partnership with the centers so that victim
Efforts to address sexual
"I'd like to see continued focus on the issue, not only in terms of administration but also in terms of students."
ALESHA DOAN
Former co-chair of the task force
Barcomb-Peterson said she didn't know when administrators would decide on the recommendations and begin implementing them.
assault so far include hiring a CARE coordinator to help students throughout the process of reporting an assault, making sexual assault prevention training mandatory and continuing to educate students about sexual
WHAT'S HAPPENED SO FAR:
assault prevention.
Sept. 2, 2014 Huffington Post publishes article about sexual assault at the University.
Sept.11,2014 Chancellor establishes Sexual Assault Task Force, reaffirms mandated sexual assault training.
Oct.1,2014 Kappa Sigma fraternity suspended for sexual assault allegations.
Oct.8,2014
Oct. 8,2014 Complaints to the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access of sexual harassment rise.
Oct.27,2014 Campus Assistance Resource and Education (CARE) Coordinator begins work at University.
Nov. 24, 2014
Chancellor approves student code clarification about jurisdiction over
off-campus assaults.
Dec. 17, 2014 Kappa Sigma fraternity placed on two-year probation.
Feb. 6, 2015 University releases sanctions in all IOA investigations for sexual harassment
Feb. 25, 2015 Student Senate passes bill supporting transcript notations for non-academic misconduct, including sexual assault.
SEE TIMELINE PAGE 02
Demand grows for mental health services
LARA KORTE
@lara_korte
When Marcela Cuestas started sixth grade, she developed an eating disorder.
The sophomore from Wichita began to feel isolated, and self-conscience. Throughout middle school, she lived with feelings of self-judgment and an incessant desire to be perfect.
"Sometimes I couldn't do my homework because I felt like if I couldn't do it perfectly I couldn't do it at all." Cuestas said.
"I just kept putting off life."
"I just kept putting off life."
As she entered high school, Cuestas' eating disorder continued, developing into anxiety and further isolation. Cuestas admitted she was scared to tell others about her problem, for fear of being treated differently.
"I thought something was wrong with me and I didn't deserve to be happy," Cuestas said.
Cuestas said she didn't hide her illness completely, before she told her mom about her eating disorder, she confided in her close friends. Although Cuestas' friends were accepting, she said there were still feelings of uncertainty.
At the end of her freshman year of high school, Cuestas finally told her mom about her eating disorder and feelings of anxiety. She began going to therapy and taking medication.
"A lot of my friends were supportive," Cuestas said, "But I noticed that they really didn't know what to do, and a lot of people wouldn't really know what to do in those instances."
When Cuestas came to KU last year, she heard about the group Active Minds, a student group dedicated to ending the stigma around mental health on college campuses. Cuestas
started going to meetings.
Everyone was so open and willing to talk about things that were bothering you." Cuestas said, "It was just a really supportive group of people and I felt really safe." Now Cuestas is the vice president of the KU chapter of Active Minds. The group holds events and informational sessions designed to get people to talk about mental health. The national organization the Kansas chapter is under started in 2004 and the community has since grown to include 400 chapters in college campuses around the country.
"There's a significant amount of evidence at this point that universities have more and more students that need mental health services," said Sarah Kirk, director of the University's Psychological Clinic.
Mental illness can play a big factor in a student's overall performance said Pam Bottos, associate director University's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).
"The kinds of challenges that college students face and feelings that they have about them, the distress that they feel, can certainly affect how efficiently they can function as students," Botts said.
Currently, CAPS is the main resource for students seeking help for mental illness. Last year, Student Senate met with CAPS director Michael Maestas to discuss better ways to handle the high volume of patients.
Wait time for an appointment varied from one to two weeks, Botts said. Since meeting with the director last year, the student senate has established a CAPS Board, which will meet with directors this fall to discuss services.
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Climate study to assess issues of diversity and inclusion on campus
JOHN PAULDINE
@john_pauldine
Climate study to assess diversity, inclusion among students, faculty, staff
An upcoming diversity climate study will help the University to better address issues relating to campus diversity, like inclusion.
The study, led by Nate Thomas, the vice provost for diversity and equity, will gather statistics from students, faculty and staff about whether they feel valued by the University.
"We are taking steps to make sure that no one feels excluded or unsafe on campus due to their race, religion or sexual orientation." Thomas said.
anonymous feedback.
"This is looking at how people feel valued across the board broken into
The climate study will also gather information about the current social climate on campus, including issues of campus safety and inclusion. In the past, many have felt
uncomfortable voicing their opinions, Thomas said, but the survey will allow for anonymous
Nate Thomas
subcategories based on things from ethnicity, religion, to veterans, and how to work around the groups that don't feel included." Thomas said. "It's taking data from the study to develop strategic actions to deal with climate."
This fall, Thomas's office will host focus groups to develop questions for the survey. The survey will be available by summer 2016, and all students faculty and staff will be encouraged to participate.
Thomas led a diversity climate study at the University of South Florida that focused on how students felt about
Last year, a Student Senate task force created a report about recruitment and retention rates of minorities at the University. The study found that the retention rate of minority students was much lower than white students. But this climate study is the first to look at students, faculty and staff on all campuses, including the Edwards Campus in Overland Park and the KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., Thomas said.
issues of race, ethnicity and safety on campus. This time he'll have the help of a team, including Mike Rounds, the interim associate vice provost of human resource management. Rounds will serve as chair of the diversity task force committee.
"This study will show how the University needs to advance diversity on campus," he said.
- Edited by Emma LeGault