Background: The Task Force was formed in Spring 2003 by Interim President Steffy to evaluate the campus climate regarding sexual assault and to make recommendations regarding procedures for prevention, reporting, discipline, and support. The Implementation Committee was formed in Fall 2003 by President Helm.
Overall Goal: Muhlenberg College strives to function as a caring community, demonstrating concern for and offering support to each other, while challenging each other to excel. The College will not tolerate any behavior characterized by violence, malice, disrespect, indecency or contempt for others. For these reasons, sexual assault, sexual intimidation, sexual harassment and other such crimes are totally inconsistent with the values and expectations of the Muhlenberg College community and will not be tolerated.
Priority Initiatives: To create a culture free of sexual assault and other crimes, the College will:
- Conduct education and training programs that focus on prevention.
- Establish policies and procedures for responding to, investigating incidents, and disciplining perpetrators.
- Focus on changing the campus culture.
- Assess the above in order to modify programs, shift emphasis and priorities, and reinforce the desired culture.
- Education and Prevention: The College will offer a wide range of prevention and education programs designed for specific members and groups in the community in order to prevent sexual assault, articulate the College’s values with respect to sexual behavior, and create a campus culture that in no way tolerates sexual assault or other associated crimes. Education and prevention programs for students will also aim at helping students make free, informed, and responsible choices with respect to sexual behavior and to effectively communicate their choices to others.
- Responding to Incidents: Consistent with the above guidelines, individuals who violate College standards in these areas will be disciplined promptly and consistently using the established policies and procedures for such administrative and judicial disciplinary action. Processes and procedures will be in place to investigate, report, and adjudicate (administratively or judicially) these reports of sex crimes in a prompt, thorough, and fair manner.
c. Changing the Campus Culture: Through continuous education and action, the College will work to change attitudes and perceptions relating to issues of sexuality and sexual crimes. Results of the Sexual Assault Prevention Task Force must be integrated with the work of the Task Force on Alcohol Abuse and the Greek Life Task Force. The Co-chairs of the Sexual Assault Implementation Committee will work with these two task forces to identify where efforts might overlap and collaboratively develop appropriate plans.
- Assessment: Assessment will guide the implementation effort by:
- Collecting historical data on actual and reported incidents and characteristics.
- Assessing the current climate as reflected in attitudes and perceptions.
- Evaluating and guiding implementation and changing the culture.
Timeline :
- Final Report – Summer 2004
- Response Processes – Summer 2004
- Begin Changing Campus Culture – Summer 2004
- Begin Surveys of Campus Culture and Attitudes – Fall 2004
- Begin Education Programs – Fall 2004
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