First a bit of prologue. I know nothing about the incident at Cornell beyond what I have read in the public sphere. Everything I share below is from my years of experience working on university campuses, particularly in the realm of student conduct. I have not written previously because it is not my intent to become involved in the social media debates about sexual assault, fraternities, and university processes. Most of that has been “shouting” opinions that often, not always, seem uninformed. But earlier this week, I read a thoughtful Substack article from someone I greatly respect yet even he ended with something I think falls a bit short. So here I am.

1. I know – one of the realities people who work in student conduct learn quickly is that there are multiple sides to every story. Unless you have talked with everyone involved in any matter referred to a university conduct office for a possible rules violation, you don’t really know what happened.

2. I believe – in the mantra Believe Women. I believe any student who comes to me and tells me they were sexually assaulted. That belief means I listen to them and I help them find the resources they need or want. I make sure they know they can see a counselor on or off campus. I let them know medical care is available and that they can file complaints with both the university conduct system and the local police.

3. I know that the university has the ethical responsibility to take care of all students and the legal responsibility to run a conduct system in accordance with both university rules and federal and state laws. That means that if a student opts to file a university complaint, we ask questions of everyone involved to try to determine what, if any, rules have been broken.

4. I know that filing a sexual assault complaint in any system is extraordinarily difficult.

5. I know that being accused of sexual assault is extraordinarily difficult.

6. I believe that no one involved in any university, criminal, or civil hearing about sexual assault is happy with the outcome. These are deeply personal matters and it is nearly impossible to meet the widely varied expectations of what justice is in these circumstances.

7. I believe that for all the challenges involved, universities should be involved in investigating and responding to sexual assault cases. Universities have a responsibility to strive for safety on campus. Universities have a role in teaching students what behavior is appropriate and happens when rules are violated. Universities have different purposes, methods and sanction options than the criminal systems. And in many cases, the complaint doesn’t meet the criteria for a criminal prosecution meaning campus conduct processes may be the only option available to a student.

8.  I know that fraternity houses are often places where many things go wrong – sexual assault, hazing, alcohol and drug use and abuse.

9. I know that other types of organizations create environments that result in the exact same problems. Getting rid of fraternities won’t solve either the sexual assault or hazing issues on campus, much less drug and alcohol abuse.

10. I know that many people wonder why universities don’t “do something”. I also know that my professional colleagues across the country have been working to solve this and many other related issues for decades. If rules, educational sessions, student expulsions, and chapter closures could have solved these issues, they would have by now.

Bonus 11. None of what I know or believe makes it better for a student who is sexually assaulted or hazed. That’s why everyone needs to be informed about campus issues. Parents and alumni need to be involved in helping students stand up to peer pressure, to learn to be the person who says “This needs to stop.” These are societal issues not just university issues. And I’ll end in the same way my Substack colleague does, we need more effort and less silence from everyone.

Take care,

Gage

Quote of the Week

“Knowing is not enough; we must apply.
Being willing is not enough;
we must do. “

Leonardo Da Vinci
“Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (15 April 1452 – 2 May 1519) was an Italian polymath of the High Renaissance who was active as a painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect. While his fame initially rested on his achievements as a painter, he has also become known for his notebooks, in which he made drawings and notes on a variety of subjects, including anatomy, astronomy, botany, cartography, painting, and palaeontology. Leonardo is widely regarded as a genius who epitomized the Renaissance humanist ideal, and his collective works contributed to the development of European art to an extent rivaled only by that of his younger contemporary Michelangelo.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci