Conversations about sexual assault are never easy to have.
Though everyone agrees that we should be doing something to try and end sexual assault, we struggle to move the dialogue much further than that. It is not a problem that only the University of Idaho is facing. It”s a national problem. Every university should be having these same conversations.
As ASUI President, I”ve spent a lot of my time talking about this issue. With schools receiving growing attention, and sometimes criticism, for how they handle sexual assault, Title IX compliance has become one of the biggest concerns in higher education administration.
Max Cowan
Not only have I worked with many administrators on trying to create programs to address the culture on college campuses that make sexual assault such an issue, but I”ve also sat on the Student Disciplinary Review Board (SDRB) that hears these cases when they come before the university.
Before going further, I”d like to make one thing clear. When I”m talking about sexual assault, I”m not talking about the “he-said-she-said” cases that everyone believes to be so common. I am talking about the overwhelming majority of cases where there is strong evidence.
Last week I proposed that in some cases of sexual assault, when students are found responsible and expelled, the SDRB should have the authority to note the expulsion on or with the student”s transcript. I believe strongly that if a student”s actions rise to the level of expulsion from our community, it should be worth noting on their record.
While some are surprised that this already isn”t common practice, I”ve talked with students who are opposed to the idea. If you are someone opposed to the idea, I”d like to clear up two common misconceptions.
First, this doesn”t mean allegations of sexual assault will be noted on a student”s record. The only time a record would be created is if the student were found responsible.
Second, this doesn”t mean the student will never be able to continue their education or get a job. No university official will follow the student for the rest of their life to tell every future employer that the student was found responsible.
It is only when the student requests a transcript that the record would be sent. Asking for a transcript is a lot like asking the university to be listed as a reference for the student.
Just as you would expect an employer who fired you to say as much if listed as a reference, the university should do its best to provide an accurate record of the student”s time at this institution. The student is always free to walk away from the university and never ask for a transcript.
With these two misconceptions cleared up, I welcome a healthy conversation about what we can do to prevent sexual assault. I believe that we should play our part on the national stage and agree that we won”t allow students found responsible to slip under the radar if they choose to transfer our credits.
This is an important conversation I want our campus to have. Without a doubt, it will be an uncomfortable discussion at times. Hopefully we will be able to support each other, and have a healthy and productive conversation to help make our campus and our country an even safer place.
Max Cowan is the ASUI president. He can be reached at [email protected]