University officials have heard rumors of students being catcalled at by construction workers at Schoonover and the Radio-Television Center, and have taken preventative measures in case they are true.
Workers at Schoonover Center and the Radio-Television Building might be doing more than just construction.
Ohio University officials say they may also be catcalling at students, according to “third-hand reports.”
No formal complaints were received by any of OU’s offices as of Monday evening, but that doesn’t mean catcalling hasn’t happened, officials said.
“We have no tolerance for this,” said Joseph Lalley, senior associate vice president of technologies and administrative services. “We have no firm evidence, nor have we received any reports that this has occurred … we heard enough rumors that we wanted to take action.”
After catching wind of the allegations last week, university officials met with the employees of the subcontractors working on the site on Friday morning, Lalley said.
Multiple companies have workers on the site.
“All employees and student employees within their role as an employee, have a duty to report incidents to the Office for Institutional Equity,” said Dianne Bouvier, interim executive director of the Office for Institutional Equity, in an email. “The university is very interested in maintaining a harassment-free environment in the classroom as well as around campus.”
Schoonover construction workers were given handouts with examples of behaviors that “would not be tolerated” and were also instructed to meet with superiors for further information. The same information will be distributed to all of OU’s major construction site workers.
“I actually witnessed an incident myself when a construction worker repeatedly whistled at women walking across College Green,” said Caitlyn McDaniel, vice president of Student Senate and a member of F--kRapeCulture.
McDaniel contacted Facilities about the problem in an email, though they were already aware of the issue.
“I think they’re doing a great job,” she said.
Construction on Schoonover and the RTV Center are set to be complete by 2015, according to a previous Post article.
“I want people to understand that we’re acting on it and want it to stop for all the right reasons,” Lalley said.
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