Review Panel seeks students' ideas for preventing and encouraging reporting of sexual assault

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The President’s Review Panel, evaluating the university prevention and response to sexual assault, is inviting students to share their perspectives at two public listening sessions next week. The forums are scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. in the Global Scholars Great Hall.

For the last few months the review panel has been holding public sessions, gathering information, conducting interviews and reviewing policies about the university’s practices and policies. The panel will use this information to make recommendations to interim interim President Scott Coltrane about improving the university’s actions to prevent, respond to, and encourage reporting of sexual misconduct and assault.

Mary Deits, the panel’s chair, sent an email directly to students encouraging them to attend one of the sessions. In her communication, Deits provided background on the panel’s charge and desire to provide a comprehensive recommendation to the University to improve conditions supporting a safe and respectful learning environment.

“This is the first opportunity the panel has had to hear from students directly,” said Deits. “We want to ensure that we are able to hear from as many as we can which is why student speakers will be given priority.”

The sessions are open to the campus community but the first session will give priority to students who want to speak. The second session is designed for student input only.

In an effort to provide students with context the panel shared specific questions in the email invitation, including:

  • What can the university do to increase reporting of incidents of sexual misconduct?
  • How can the university provide better support to students who are involved in such incidents?
  • What can the university do to build student trust in its polies and practices related to incidents of sexual misconduct?
  • What can the university do to prevent such incidents?

Deits also took the opportunity to remind students of the existing sexual assault resources including 541-346-SAFE, the UO’s 24/7 hotline for reporting and support, and the SAFE website.

—By Jennifer Winters, Public Affairs Communications