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KANSAN.COM
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Baxter Schanze/KANSAN
Last spring, the University placed 3,027 flags in the lawn of Watson Library in an attempt to raise awareness of sexual assault issues. This was part of the University's efforts in recent years to foreground issues of sexual violence.
What is mandatory reporting?
▶ CHANDLER BOESE
@Chandler_Boese
For many survivors of sexual assault, confiding in someone can offer emotional support. However, students at the University should know that there are certain confidants who are required to report those experiences to investigators.
Last year, the University had just over 10,000 employees. Nearly all of them are obligated to report any instances of sexual violence or discrimination that they find out about.
Mandatory reporting is part of the University's Title IX policies, which work to prevent and deal with instances of sexual discrimination and harassment. The Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access coordinates the reports of sexual assault and investigates them.
Kathy Rose-Mockry, the director of the Emily Taylor Center for Women and Gender Equity, said there are two kinds of reporting that employees can do if they know about an instance of sexual
assault or harassment.
Employees can report the incident without the individual's name, Rose-Mockry said, but only if certain conditions are met. Most of the time, employees will be obligated to report all of the details they know about the incident, including the names of those involved.
"It's not meant to be invasive, but it is meant to provide individuals with assistance and that's why the information is collected," Rose-Mockry said.
"It's not meant to be invasive."
Kathy Rose-Mockry Director of the Emily Taylor Center for Women and Gender Equity
Annie McBride, the center's assistant director, said mandatory reporting is about helping individual students and allowing the University to see patterns among incidents.
"If we have a student who comes forward perhaps from a particular living organization or student club and reports, for instance, that they are experiencing a lot of negative comments about their bodies or discriminatory comments about their gender," she said. "They may think they're the only person experiencing that, but when they report that via IOA. [the office] could look for patterns.
Jen Brockman, the director of the Sexual Assault and Prevention Education Center, said mandatory reporting is about making sure that survivors are getting assistance.
"If a student comes to a staff member for help, we want to make sure that the student is being connected with the right resources on campus," she said.
On an individual level, the IOA can help arrange interim measures for dealing with the situation, including changing a student's living arrangement or class schedule, McBride said. Of course, they can also conduct an investigation on the incidents and possibly pursue disciplinary action if an incident is confirmed.
Brockman said a reported incident doesn't mean it's out of the survivor's hands.
"The survivor is in control of the process all the way through," she said.
For students who want to get information about the procedures surrounding sexual discrimination and assault, there are a few employees who are exempt from the mandatory reporting policy. Rose-Mockry said, including CARE coordinator Merrill Evans, Counseling and Psychology employees, doctors, and members of the Ombuds Office.
But every other person employed by the University is a mandatory reporter, including faculty, staff and students, according to the University's online policy manual.
Anyone affiliated with the University can report incidents of sexual harassment or violence to the IOA at 785-864-6414 or sexualharassment@ku.edu.
- Edited by Lexanna Sims
SURGE, Union screen 'Trapped'
Miranda Anaga/KANSAN Carla Rivas-D'Amico, president of Students United for Reproductive and Gender Equality, welcomes the guests at the "Trapped" viewing.
► HAILEY DIXON
@_hailey_dixon
"Trapped," a documentary describing the issues and laws southern abortion clinics face, was shown Sept. 29 to an audience of about 30 in the Jayhawk Room of the Kansas Union.
Carla Rivas-D'Amico president of the Students United for Reproductive and Gender Equity, coordinated the event. The Alpha Kappa Chapter of Omega Phi Alpha also helped put on the event.
Rivas-D'Amico said the film was featured as part of the National United for Abortion Coverage Week of Action 2016. The week marks the 40th year of the Hyde Amendment, which was passed in 1976.
Following the ending of the film, Rivas-D'Amico and a panel of individuals answered questions from audience members.
"We are lucky to have some really incredible women that are experts and really on the front lines of the battle," Rivas-D'Amico said.
The documentary profiled various laws and abortion clinics in Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and other states in the South.
"The film focuses on the south, but it's still applicable because it focuses specifically on House Bill 2," Rivas-D'Amico said.
House Bill 2 was a Texas bill that required four separate visits for the abortion pill and mandated that all clinics that perform abortions (medical or surgical) to be ambulatory surgical centers (essentially miniature hospitals), according to Rivas-D'Amico. The bill also required all doctors to have admitting privileges at a hospital no more than 30 miles away. This bill was ruled unconstitutional on the grounds of imposing an undue burden for persons
seeking abortion. Students in attendance reacted positively to the film.
"During the movie, according to expectations, it was very moving, and it was depressing at points, and surprisingly optimistic at the end, but it's still a huge battle," Susannah Mitchell, a sophomore from Fairway, said. "After the movie, I felt more uplifted than I thought I would. But I know obviously that it's a huge fight and I feel much more moved to go out and take action."
Rivas-D'Amico said she hopes people feel more educated after viewing the film.
After the movie, I felt more uplifted than I thought I would."
Susannah Mitchell University sophomore
"I really hope that folks come out of this event understanding who it's affecting, who it's impacting, I want them to come away with the tools they need in order to fight these bans." Rivas-D'Amico said. "If we work together, if we vote, if we push the congressional act, then we can meet this happen. We can lift these bans that deny women abortion."
Alesha Doan, a political science professor at the University who has researched and written about reproductive policy, encouraged young people to get involved in state politics and vote to make a difference in these issues.
"Be active, stay loud, stay vocal, push back on these narratives of shame and regret," Doan said.
- Edited by Lexanna Sims
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