Important work has been happening this quarter which has culminated in a recommendation to standardize our response to sexual assault judicial offenses.  Because of the timing, I wanted to make sure you were aware of these changes before you left for the summer break.

 

Over the past year, we have experienced more reported cases of sexual assaults through University Judiciaries than in previous years.  As a result, I commissioned Dean of Students Ryan Lombardi to convene a task force of faculty, staff and students to make recommendations as to a set of sanctioning guidelines for those students found in violation of a sexual assault according to the Student Code of Conduct.

 

The group met and submitted recommendations that were presented to the Review and Standards Committee (a standing University committee charged with advising the Vice President on matters related to the judicial system and the Code of Conduct), the Sexual Assault Task Force, GAMMA (Greeks Advocating the Mature Management of Alcohol),Graduate Student Senate and Student Senate.  All of the groups favorably received the proposal and were supportive of this cooperative institutional effort to respond strongly to sexual violence.  Just this evening, Student Senate passed a resolution supporting this new effort.  As a result of this work and the support of the various constituents, I have decided to implement these new sanctioning guidelines effective fall quarter 2009.  To be clear, these sanctioning guidelines will not change the adjudication process of sexual assault cases.  These guidelines will be used after a student is found in violation and sanctioning is being considered.

 

Please see the sanctioning guidelines below. I want to thank all of the students, faculty and staff who have worked tirelessly to draft these guidelines. I appreciate their important work defining the values of OHIO and working to keep all of our students safe.