Those seeking help after sexual harassment might be able to find it right down the hall.
Resident housing staff and faculty supervisors are some of Ohio University’s staff trained to aid those who report sexual misconduct through the university’s procedures.
OU supervisors, including department chairs and those in administrative roles, are required to complete an online training program, as called for by the United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights’ April 2011 “Dear Colleague” letter, said Dianne Bouvier, Title IX coordinator and interim executive director for the Office for Institutional Equity.
Employees of residence halls go through a similar process, with resident assistants receiving training over the summer, said Peter Trentacoste, executive director of residential housing.
“For us it is important that an investigation does occur,” he said “It is something that we take very seriously.”
If a student approaches a faculty member with a sexual harassment claim, most university employees must serve as “mandatory reporters,” Bouvier said.
“We really have an obligation to make sure that we have a safe environment for students and employees that is free of discrimination and harassment and the only way we can address it is if we know about it,” Bouvier said
Reporting sexual misconduct might help more than just the victim, said Martha Compton, director of the Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility.
Reports of sexual assault that potentially transpired on campus are sent to Institutional Equity, which often works with Community Standards.
“We have an obligation to look into that (report) to see if there is someone on the campus who may pose a threat,” Compton said.
Concerns might also arise if the accused and the accuser live in the same residence hall, attend the same classes or frequently see each other on campus, Compton said.
“(We step in) so that a survivor, as much as possible, does not have their educational endeavors impacted to where they stop attending classes or drop out of the university,” she said.
However, not all university staff members are required to report incidents to Institutional Equity. Some qualify as “confidential sources,” such as individuals in Counseling and Psychological Services and the Survivor Advocacy Program.
“We can hold our clients’ info in confidence as long as it does not pose risk to another person,” said Erika Gray, a psychology resident and outreach coordinator for Counseling and Psychological Services. “We provide confidentiality so our clients can feel free to discuss … openly.”
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