Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Supports National Effort on Sexual Misconduct Prevention
Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ statement regarding the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) releasing a list of the higher education institutions under investigation for possible violations of federal law over the handling of sexual violence and harassment complaints.
FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION:
Procedures regarding sexual misconduct and harassment are being examined at 55 institutions, according to information released by the Department of Education on Thursday, May 1, 2014. (.)
STATEMENT FROM Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ
Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ applauds the U.S. Department of Education’s efforts to eradicate sexual violence on college campuses and to provide universities with additional tools to combat sexual assault. Our goals are the same.
The matters under review by the Education Department have been investigated by Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ and predate our University task force review of sexual misconduct policies and procedures. The University has been aggressive in putting into practice wide-ranging new procedures to inform and protect our students, to provide prompt and effective resolution of complaints, and to hold violators accountable while treating all students fairly.
Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ continually reviews and updates its programs in comparison with national benchmarks, and we are pleased that the White House also has made these matters a priority for all American universities. No issue is more important than the health and safety of our students.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Department of Education is reviewing three Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ cases that predate the University’s . One case involved a complaint of inappropriate language in a classroom; one involved an alleged sexual assault that was later dismissed by the Dallas County District Attorney's Office; and the third case, which does not involve a sexual assault allegation, is currently the subject of litigation.
A year ago, Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ President R. Gerald Turner adopted the task force’s recommendations for new and revised policies and procedures, including programs promoting education and training. Students, faculty and staff members have implemented many of these recommendations and continue to develop others.
New initiatives include an online course for incoming students on sexual misconduct prevention; an Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Values Statement and the “Not on My Campus” campaign developed by student leaders; a research-based bystander intervention program created by the Department of Psychology and Health Center that will launch in fall 2014; and informational cards to help faculty and staff support students in case of sexual assault.
Continuing programs include sexual misconduct education in Wellness classes and residence hall programs, campus programs including Take Back the Night and Sexual Assault Awareness Week, and free self-defense programs offered by Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Police.
Information about campus and community resources, state and federal laws, Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ policy, prevention and education is available on Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ’s Health and Safety website, .
Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ also is reviewing the White House’s national task force report on campus sexual assaults, which was released April 29, and will compare it with the Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ task force recommendations. Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ will make any changes needed to ensure that Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ policies are in line with national benchmarks.
As reported by the White House, sexual misconduct is a serious issue at universities and colleges across the country, and sexual assault is an underreported crime nationwide. Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ seeks to provide a supportive environment for students to come forward, seek medical care and alert police immediately.
Campus resources here to help students include Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Police, the Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Title IX Coordinator, confidential counselors at the Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Health Center, the Office of the Dean of Student Life and the Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Women’s Center. Community resources include the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital and the Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center.
Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ expressly prohibits sexual harassment, including sexual assault and all acts of sexual violence, and will hold violators accountable. Sexual assault is a violation of Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ Policy 2.5.1 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Sexual assault also is a crime under Texas law that is punishable by imprisonment.
All Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ community members are urged to join efforts to prevent sexual misconduct. .
Learn more on Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ’s Health and Safety website, sm.
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