50 signatures reached
To: President Darryll J. Pines
Urgent Call for Reform: Strengthening the University of Maryland's Response to Sexual Harassment
Dear President Pines,
I hope this letter finds you well. We are writing to you as concerned students of the University of Maryland, College Park community to address the pressing issue of sexual harassment on our campus. While acknowledging the university's commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive environment, I believe there is an urgent need to reform the current code of conduct and policies to more effectively combat sexual harassment.
To this end, we propose the implementation of the following changes:
Comprehensive Education and Prevention Programs:
We urge the university to institute mandatory and comprehensive sexual assault prevention programs for all incoming students. By providing education on consent, bystander intervention, and healthy relationships, we can empower our students with the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute to a safer campus environment. We also urge further transparency on the current training required of staff and faculty at UMD. This would allow students to hold the curriculum accountable and ensure staff and faculty are equipped with the necessary knowledge and tools to address concerns, prevent occurrences, and protect themselves from sexual harassment and misconduct.
Anonymous Reporting Mechanisms:
It is essential to establish and widely publicize anonymous reporting mechanisms for survivors and witnesses. This will create a safe space for individuals to come forward without fear of retaliation, thereby encouraging a culture of accountability and support. The process provided by the code of conduct on anonymity suggests that anonymity requests can be overridden and the OCRSM Title IX reporting mechanism should make more clear that items like "Name" or "UID" are not required to submit a report.
Regular Campus Climate Surveys:
To continually assess the campus climate regarding sexual assault and gauge the effectiveness of prevention programs and support services, I propose the implementation of regular surveys. Gathering feedback directly from the community will not only help identify areas that require improvement but also ensure that the university's response remains responsive and adaptive.
Why is this important?
I believe that by proactively addressing these aspects, the University of Maryland can take a significant step towards creating a campus where all students feel secure and supported. I kindly request your attention to this matter and your commitment to implementing these reforms as part of the ongoing efforts to prioritize the well-being of our university community.
The Diamondback covered a story in December 2022 relating to the record-high rate of sexual misconduct reports during the 2021-2022 period. The sexual misconduct reports come from students, staff, or faculty members on UMD’s campus, which are then reviewed by a Title XI coordinator at OCRSM. The coordinator then reaches out to the complainant who can then decide if they want to file a complaint for the University to address their report of sexual misconduct. Hundreds of reports were filed within the 2021-2022 reporting period, with only 25 becoming formal complaints. Complainants did not want to move forward in 94 of the cases and did not respond to the outreach in 107 of the cases. In 41 cases the university determined it did not have authority over the respondent. While sexual harassment was the most frequently reported type of sexual misconduct within this reporting period, there were zero investigations into the assaults in that same period (UMD Sees Record High in Sexual Misconduct Reports During 2021-2022, 2022). Seeing this rise in sexual harassment on campus facilitates the necessity of reforming the current policies related to on-campus and workplace sexual harassment.