|
The newly created Office of Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Education (OSMPE) opened its doors last week in 703 Lerner Hall and began the year with several educational mandates. Charlene Allen, newly appointed coordinator of the office will assume her new role on October 16, 2000.
"First and foremost, the office will disseminate information and coordinate education and training for the entire University community," said J.J. Haywood, who has filled in as interim coordinator since May of this year. "It's important that we get the word out about sexual misconduct to both returning and incoming students, as well as to deans, faculty, athletic coaches and other staff members who have ongoing student contact."
The OSMPE will partner with other campus offices, including deans of students, residential programs and the Columbia-Barnard Rape Crisis/Anti-Violence Center. "This is an unparalleled opportunity for collaboration with other offices -- both in providing support for students affected by sexual misconduct and providing education to the community," said Maura Bairley, program coordinator at the Center.
Educational efforts began this summer with the publication of a brochure that was distributed across campus at various orientations and service fairs. The brochure was also given out at the annual "Sex in the City" seminars that all incoming Columbia and Barnard undergraduates are required to attend. "Sexual misconduct is a key issue in the 'Sex in the City' educational drama, and was definitely a topic of discussion in the focus groups that followed," commented Jordan Friedman, director of Alice! Columbia's Health Education Program and a co-facilitator of "Sex in the City." "This gets students learning and talking about the issue even before classes begin," Friedman added.
In a related effort to introduce the policy to incoming graduate students, Ombuds officer Marsha Wagner included sexual misconduct information in her orientation talks on the Morningside and Health Sciences campuses over the past few weeks.
Columbia's new initiatives regarding sexual misconduct are the result of the revised Sexual Misconduct Policy and Disciplinary Procedure passed by the Senate this past February. The revised policy generated the search that led to Allen's hire, in which students played an essential role. Noting his support for the selection of Allen, Jeff Senter, a Columbia College senior, remarked that "this search was an excellent collaboration between students and administration." Giselle Harrington, associate director of Health Services at Barnard, seconded Jeff's enthusiasm. "Charlene's versatility was immediately obvious to the search committee," said Harrington. "She was the unanimous first choice and we are thrilled to have her."
The OSMPE will also coordinate and administer the University's sexual misconduct adjudication process established under the new policy; selection of student and staff panelists for the disciplinary procedure and training is already under way.
The Disciplinary Procedure is one of three available options for initiating a sexual misconduct complaint against a student enrolled in any Columbia school, including Barnard College and Teachers College, except for the Law School. Alternatively, a student may employ dean's discipline or accredited mediation.
|
