Maryville Pawprint
1.27.15 | Jeffrey Painter
Missouri
On Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2015, Maryville University added a Mandatory Sexual Misconduct Prevention Training course on CANVAS for all faculty, staff and students in order to raise awareness about and to prevent sexual misconduct from occurring on campus.
According to Associate Dean of Students and Title IX Coordinator, Kathy Quinn, it is important to Maryville University that students participate in this training for a couple of reasons. First, it is required by law for the university to have all faculty, staff, and students participate. Without cooperation, the university may lose federal funding which would affect a large amount of students at Maryville University. Second, many people may not know what actions might fall under sexual misconduct.
“When students come in to make a report or discuss what has happened to them, they do not understand that what happened constitutes as sexual assault,” says Kathy Quinn. “In some ways, it goes on both sides where the victim did not understand and in some cases the perpetrator didn’t realize it was sexual assault.” This then leads into the idea of consent.
Consent plays a large factor in the cases of sexual misconduct. Any person who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol (along with many other important factors found in the video) cannot give their consent. In order for consent to be given at all, it must be in the form of affirmative consent which Kathy Quinn describes as, “Yes means yes.” This requires a suspect of sexual misconduct to prove how he or she was given consent for their actions. Learning what consent truly means is only one focus in the course.
As a whole, the course is composed of three parts which includes watching a video, confirming that participants have watched the video and the passing of a quiz. The video includes a slideshow of important facts which are read aloud in full as well as several filmed examples to emphasize what can be determined as sexual misconduct. The quiz then confirms that students will know what to do if they are ever involved in sexual misconduct.
Being the Title IX Coordinator, Kathy Quinn encourages victims of sexual misconduct to reach out to any member of faculty or staff including her as well as what the training defines as “confidential reporters” such as the university’s personal counselors.
All members of faculty and staff excluding “confidential reporters” must report incidents directly to Kathy Quinn.
Maryville University provides information on their website which includes the Title IX Sexual Harassment Misconduct Policy.
Maryville University defines Title IX as prohibiting “discrimination on the basis of sex” and that, “Sexual harassment (including sexual violence/assault) that denies or limits a person’s ability to participate in or benefit from the University’s Programs and Activities or any aspect of the employment relationship is a form of prohibited discrimination.”
Click here for Maryville University’s full sexual harassment policy.
---------------------------------------------------------------
