The Observer, April 18, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 25
Student task force should be commended
To the Editor:
Imagine my excitement when I came back from studying abroad last semester to find that after more than a decade, the CWRU sexual assault policy was finally being revamped. A number of students over the past five years have been working to make that happen while continuing to educate our campus about sexual assault. These individuals were members of the Student Sexual Misconduct Task Force. Originally formed through the FSM Center for Women, the task force went far beyond what was expected of them in their work to change the climate of our campus. They were an integral part of passive programming campaigns, including the scenarios flyers posted alongside the large informational posters created by the Sexual Conduct Task Force (our professional counterparts).
The most important goal for the students involved in SSMTF has always been changing the policy. They recognized the old policy's weaknesses and were committed to creating one that addressed everything a student needs to know before, during, and after a potential sexual assault. I am lucky to be here to see that change come to fruition in my time and honored to share the good news with those who have been a part of the student task force.
As you may have seen in The Observer on Feb. 22 (New sexual assault policy to take a more aggressive stance), or in the Case Daily on March 18 (Case Western Reserve University at Forefront of Sexual Conduct Awareness), CWRU has commissioned a committee to review and improve our policy and implement it for our campus. Support for policy reviews came heavily from vice provost Lynn Singer, and as far as I know, the new policy has the approval of our administration. What disappoints me in both of the above mentioned articles is no mention whatsoever of the Student Sexual Misconduct Task Force.
I cannot believe that a committee would have been formed at all, or that such strong attention from the administration would have been achieved, if it wasn't for this group of students. After months of researching comprehensive sexual assault policies from other campuses, the student task force created a 12-page comprehensive draft policy based on what we see as the needs of our campus community. We then presented the draft proposal to the Undergraduate Student Government, gaining their support for policy reform. We also took the draft to the professional task force for review and critique before presenting it formally to CWRU administration. The draft was provided to the policy revision committee and many of the new components come from our suggestions and concerns about the old policy, such as a lack of clarity about the reporting process, privileged reporting resources, and rights of the survivor and accused alike.
So, I am in part writing this for myself, but more so for the group that I was proud to be a part of, a group of concerned students that have dedicated years of time, resources, and frustrations in making this change happen. It is to give them the credit that is their due for being the catalysts that were behind the change. Thank you, SSMTF, for having the energy and drive to make a positive change on our campus.
Joshua Gohlike
Undergraduate student
