Students are a vital aspect when it comes to making a change in sexual assault.
We sent a reporter to Ohio University’s Presidential Advisory Council on Sexual Misconduct last Friday. Of the approximately 20 individuals in the room, our reporter was one of only three students. Only three male council members were there, and most were white women.
The council was formed to bring recommendations and reports to President Roderick McDavis about the campus climate regarding sexual assault, as well as coordination with the city of Athens and its police department on the topic — among other important initiatives.
Although we’re confident the group will make a positive impact at OU as it’s currently comprised, we think it would benefit from having more students and diverse individuals at the table in future, less preliminary meetings. Members of the council seem to believe the same thing and are open to including more students and diverse individuals.
“Student voices are critical for this work,” said council co-chair Dianne Bouvier, OU’s Title IX coordinator and director of the Office of Institutional Equity.
Sexual assault, after all, affects more of us than we would like to admit. And if the university is making a point to confront the issue head-on like it has, it should take steps to ensure that there is a diverse and student-driven voice contributing to those efforts.
Editorials represent the majority opinion of The Post’s executive editors.
