University educators sign op-ed that expresses their concern over the current state of "confidential resources" for students who have been sexually assaulted.
We, the undersigned, support the Ohio University Survivor Advocacy Program. With the departure of Program Coordinator Delaney Anderson, students can no longer seek confidential support from OUSAP. We as faculty have been designated as mandatory reporters by the university, and so we cannot offer the confidentiality survivors of sexual assault need. Nor can Dr. Alicia Chavira-Prado (Office of the Vice-Provost for Diversity and Inclusion), who has been charged with interim oversight of this program.
We urge the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to make the search for Ms. Anderson’s successor an urgent priority and to draw up plans to avoid the crises that ensue when a program relies entirely on a single employee. Moving forward, we also hope to see greater transparency in planning and decision making.
In the larger picture, we are concerned about the dearth of confidential resources for students who have experienced sexual assault, harassment or other sexual misconduct. We call upon the university to maintain (and ideally expand) the scope of OUSAP, including especially its confidential peer advocates: students trained in trauma-informed care who are uniquely positioned to offer support.
We further ask for reconsideration of the blanket policy that makes all faculty and staff mandatory reporters (except for CPS counselors and Campus Care physicians). For students, it is counterintuitive that employees of the Women’s Center, LGBT Center and ombuds office cannot offer a confidential ear to any student in crisis. We as faculty see a chilling effect in being required to report students who disclose a sexual assault in a classroom discussion, a private conversation or an essay. Title IX compliance requires that some employees be designated mandatory reporters — but not all. The current mandated reporting policy is liable to silence survivors, making our campus less safe.
Respectfully,
Miriam Shadis, history and Patricia Stokes, women’s, gender and sexuality studies
Cynthia Anderson, sociology and anthropology; Mark Barsamian, mathematics; David Bell, linguistics; Geoffrey Buckley, geography; Devika Chawla, communication studies; Michele Clouse, history; Mariana Dantas, history; Bernhard Debatin, E.W. Scripps School of Journalism; Andrew Escobedo, English; Ana L. Rosado Feger, management systems; Christine Gidycz, psychology; Katherine Jellison, history; Laura Larson, School of Art and Design; Kimberly Little, women’s, gender and sexuality studies; Loran Marsan, women’s, gender and sexuality studies; Kevin Mattson, history; Jaclyn Maxwell, history, classics and world religions; Joseph McLaughlin, English; Judith Millesen, Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs; Theresa Moran, English; Eve Ng, Scripps School of Journalism; Beth Quitslund, English; Nicole Reynolds, English, women's, gender and sexuality studies; Karen Riggs, School of Media Arts and Studies; Carey Snyder, English; Kathleen Sullivan, political science; Kevin Uhalde, history; Thomas Vander Ven, sociology; Julie White, political science, women’s, gender and sexuality studies; Risa Whitson, geography, women’s, gender and sexuality studies; Valerie L. Young, chemical and biomolecular engineering
