Valerie, why did CU-Boulder deploy this survey to our students?
The purpose of the survey was to understand the frequency and types of sexual misconduct experienced by our students from the time they arrived at CU-Boulder, including incidents that occurred on campus or off campus. We are concerned about sexual misconduct whether it happens here on campus or somewhere miles away.
We also wanted to assess much more than the occurrence of non-consensual sexual contact or penetration (also referred to as sexual assault) – we asked questions about sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, intimate partner abuse and stalking.
As people go through the Phase I results, I am sure they are going to want to know, "How safe is CU compared to other universities?"
Sexual assault is a national problem for all communities and we all need to have conversations on how to stop it. It’s occurring on college campuses and in environments away from higher education, too. Because we know that the vast majority of sexual misconduct is perpetrated by acquaintances, friends, and dating partners, it’s important to work with students about the realities of these issues.
When you look at last year’s American Association of Universities sexual misconduct survey of 27 universities, as well as the White House report and other surveys, the rate of sexual assault for undergraduate women generally ranges percentage-wise from the low-20s to the mid-30s. According to the survey completed on our campus, 28 percent of undergraduate women report experiencing sexual assault while being a student at CU, so we are within that range.
It’s difficult to make an apples-to-apples comparison because each survey has different factors and definitions. For example, the AAU survey included unwanted kissing. Ours did not. Our survey included tactics such as coercion. The AAU survey did not. We’re not spending much time comparing ourselves to other universities - because whether we are higher or lower than the averages, our rate is still too high. Whether we were in the low-20s, the 30s or in the middle, our response was going to be the same. So we certainly have more work to do in education, prevention, support services and investigations. We will use the survey results to expand existing programs and prevention efforts, educational outreach initiatives, and investigation processes and policies.
Why does CU-Boulder have a Title IX office when the police also investigate such matters?
While sexual misconduct can also lead to criminal charges, the university has an independent obligation under the Title IX federal law to address any allegations of sexual misconduct. It is our job to assure a safe and a non-discriminatory environment for the victim and for the larger community. There can be concurrent university and criminal investigations, though there are different standards that apply, including the burden of proof. A prosecutor has to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. For Title IX proceedings, the threshold is lower – it has to be more likely than not that a policy violation took place.
How do I report a sex assault?
In an emergency situation or if there is an immediate safety concern, calling 911 is the best option. However, at any point after an assault has occurred, students have the option to report to the police and/or to the university. Our office, the Office of Institutional Equity & Compliance (OIEC) investigates university policy violations. Students may pursue a criminal process, university process, or both. If a victim chooses not to report formally and/or chooses not to participate in an investigation (either through our office or the police), students also have confidential support options and we can still assist with accommodations and other services to ensure continued access to educational programs and activities.
If the assault victim isn’t sure about initiating an investigation, there is free, confidential support provided by the CU-Boulder Office of Victim Assistance (OVA). OVA employees are advocates and licensed counselors who can walk students through their options for reporting, medical assistance, communicating with professors, or adjusting living situations.
To make the process of reporting more accessible, the university has a website dedicated to the range of reporting options available for students who experience sexual misconduct, discrimination, harassment, related retaliation, and crimes. This site also includes information about reporting members of the CU community who may be a threat to themselves or others. That website is www.colorado.edu/reportit.
For our faculty and staff, I also want to emphasize that a responsible employee who witnesses or receives a written or oral report or complaint of sexual misconduct, protected class discrimination or harassment, or related retaliation must promptly report it to my office. As representatives of our institution, we have a reporting obligation under law.
What trainings do you offer for bystanders?
For incoming students during their first semester, we provide an in-person, skill-building session for dealing with potential problems students may encounter in social situations. This bystander intervention training, required for all new students, improves students’ ability to recognize high-risk or problematic behaviors, increases the likelihood that students will help in these situations, and gives them a range of options for effectively intervening. We also provide additional bystander intervention training that focuses on sexual assault and intimate partner abuse for all independent IFC fraternity chapters each year, and refresher training for all new members of CU Panhellenic sorority chapters. In addition, we’re working with many academic departments in the College of Arts and Sciences and in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences to provide bystander training to graduate students and to share intervention strategies with faculty and staff.
I invite all members of our campus community to learn more about my office and what they can do prevent sexual misconduct in our community. Please visit www.colorado.edu/institutionalequity and www.colorado.edu/studentsuccess for more details.
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