UH installs interim sexual-violence policy

Following increased pressure in Hawaii and in Washington, D.C., the University of Hawaii instituted last week an interim systemwide policy regarding sex discrimination and gender-based violence.

Following increased pressure in Hawaii and in Washington, D.C., the University of Hawaii instituted last week an interim systemwide policy regarding sex discrimination and gender-based violence.

The policy seeks to lay down one policy covering all 10 of the university’s campuses, while clarifying the types of conduct prohibited on campus, and identifies how and from whom students, faculty and staff can seek confidential support or report incidents of sex discrimination and gender-based violence.

The policy eventually will be replaced following a process of consulting with various stakeholders.

The interim policy comes after the U.S. Department of Education identified UH-Manoa in May of last year as one of 55 campuses across the country under investigation for possible violations of federal law over the handling of sexual violence and harassment complaints, which then led to state legislators calling for an updated policy.

“When (UH System) President (David) Lassner was (interim president), he was challenged by the State Commission on the Status of Women and the Women’s Legislative Caucus, asking him ‘What are you doing about Title IX and what are you doing about the Violence Against Women Act?’” said Jennifer Rose, director of the UH system’s newly formed Office of Institutional Equity. “And to his credit, even as he was interim, he started taking it on.”

In addition to the new policy, UH has announced its new Title IX and Office of Institutional Equity website, at www.hawaii.edu/titleix. It provides information on campus, local and national resources regarding sexual violence, stalking, domestic violence, dating violence and other forms of sex discrimination. The new policy also is included on the site.

Having a uniform policy across the system will cut down on confusion and ensure that complaints are dealt with in a timely and efficient manner, Rose said.

“Because we had so many students and so many victims of sexual violence say, ‘I don’t want to have to go to five different places to figure out what to do if I’ve been raped,’ we decided to roll it all into one,” she said.

“One of my highest priorities has been to ensure that all of our campuses maintain and promote safe and respectful environments for all students, faculty, staff and visitors,” wrote Lassner in a letter to members of the UH community. “To that end, as we celebrate the start of the fall 2015 semester, I am pleased to announce the establishment of the Office of Institutional Equity at the UH System.

“This office will build upon our foundation and commitment to provide a safe, nonviolent and nondiscriminatory community for students, faculty, staff and visitors across the 10 UH campuses and our community-based learning centers. It will be primarily responsible for overseeing the federal legislation concerning Title IX and the Violence Against Women Act, as well as collaboratively establishing systemwide best practices for responding to sexual violence, sex and gender-based discrimination, domestic and dating violence, stalking and retaliation.”

The most recent data available via the UH-Hilo website shows that four forcible sex offenses were reported on campus in 2011, two of which occurred in on-campus student housing facilities. One on-campus forcible sex offense was reported in 2012, and one forcible sex offense was reported in 2013 in on-campus housing.

Students, faculty and staff on the Hilo campus can get more information at www.hawaii.edu/titleix, or by contacting the campus Title IX coordinators: Jennifer Stotter, 808-932-7641, jstotter@hawaii.edu; or Kalei Rapoza 808-932-7626, kaleihii@hawaii.edu.

Email Colin M. Stewart at cstewart@hawaiitribune-herald.com.