JMU Accepts Rape Policy Announcement with Sporadic Gascho Said That the Library Is Applause
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
• . '.' '"■ •'•'■::.. p'-"■'■ ' ■ I -— ■ WEATHER INSIDE TODAY: moat* cloudy NEWS 3 with a chance of rain OPINION 12 Mtfc70 Low:50s FOCUS 14 STYLE 19 FRIDAY: mostly sunny M0i:62 Low:50s SPORTS 23 HUMOR 25 CLASSIFIEDS 27 U N I THURSDAY MARCH 24,1994 VOL 71, NO. 42 Mennonite college makes name change by Greg Froom "We now offer an M.A. in counseling. That was our first staff writer graduate level program. After the Harrisonburg will have two name change, I expect to see a universities this summer when major expansion" in the number Eastern Mennonite College and of graduate programs offered, he Seminary officially changes its said. name to Eastern Mennonite Lapp said his vision for the University. school "calls for us to continue EMC President Joseph Lapp offering excellent academic announced the name change to programs from a distinctive the student body at the end of the Christian and Anabaptist College Assembly on Wednesday perspective while expanding into morning in C. K. Lehman graduate programs that fit our Auditorium on EMC's campus. mission and strengths." The official change takes effect The name change has gotten a August 22. less than enthusiastic reception "Yesterday, the Board of from some students on EMC's TODD LAPLANTE Trustees and the Mennonite campus. The Student Coalition Against Rape sits In a silent vigil Tuesday to remember victims of rape. Board of Education voted said she questioned the decision. JMU decided Monday to adopt most of SCAR's proposed sexual assault policy changes. unanimously to become Eastern "I think it's stupid," she said. Mennonite University," Lapp "We're trying to get too much said. prestige and not enough The audience responded to the educational standards." JMU accepts rape policy announcement with sporadic Gascho said that the library is applause. not sufficient for a university and that the administration should by Cyndy Liedtke changes should be made to the decision being made Monday. Lapp concluded his announcement saying, "EMU as have taken more time to think the senior writer current university judicial She said the final procedure. recommendations were made a unified . education center decision over instead of "just The JMU administration The administration agreed to Monday after a meeting with will continue to strive for jumping into it." decided Monday to accept most implement all of the SCAR SCAR last week and ongoing excellence in all things." He then Dawn Bell, also an EMC of the recommendations proposals with the exception of discussion between students and invited those in ___^_ submitted by the Student changes to the judicial procedure. administrators. attendance to celebrate ,, Coalition Against Rape to change SCAR member Brian Kildee Straub said the outcome was the announcement with a We 're trying to get the university's sexual said, "I'm pleased with the fact positive. "It certainly indicated to reception on the Campus misconduct policy. that we're finally going to stop me that administratively, it is Center Plaza. too much prestige and SCAR's proposal included resisting the change and the very important that we do A March 23 press requests for a full-time sexual progress that the students are dialogue with any group with release from EMC's nQf en0Ugh educational assault coordinator, training asking for." regard to change. And the department ot « ff members of the Judicial Council But while Kildee was pleased outcome of that is a winning communications stated standards. to deal with sexual assault cases, with the final response of the solution for the institution." that EMC will take the a third-party reporting system administration, he said he In a statement released university name "to and use of the words "sexual "couldn't help but think" that it Monday, Robert Scott, vice consolidate and unify, to Hannah Gascho assault" instead of "sexual had something to do with the president for student affairs, said convey breadth of EMC student misconduct" in the policy. silent march and vigil that was he had developed a series of programs" and "to offer —— The proposal also planned and held on campus recommendations to change the clarity internationally." recommended a one-year Tuesday morning. sexual misconduct policy after The press release stated that student, was surprised by the suspension for a judicial rape or Suzanne Straub, an associate input from SCAR and other the word "university" will "more change. "I haven't taken it sodomy conviction as a minimum vice president for student affairs students. He also said that JMU accurately portray a seriously. I didn't know that they sanction. The policy should also said, "There was nothing President Ronald Carrier had denominational school with a were taking it that seriously," she be accessible to males and particularly magical" about the approved their implementation. variety of programs" instead of a said. SCAR representatives held a "school that offers religious But Bishop said, "We have meeting with administrators education only." done a lot of planning, and the Students hold silent march Monday to discuss the changes. "University" is also more students have been involved with Scott said Tuesday, "We felt easily understood than "college" the decision process." He added More than 250 students marched across campus and held a the students made some good or "seminary" in foreign nations that there are student silent vigil Tuesday morning in front of Wilson Hall in support of points, and it was appropriate to where EMC has exchange representatives who attend the rape victims at JMU. try and work with the university programs and where it recruits Board of Trustees meetings. SCAR member Laura McClintock said the vigil was intended to community." students, according to the press Student Myna Anne Smith "show support and respect for survivors of rape." She said that As part of SCAR's proposal, release. believes that the decision was even after the administration had passed the majority of their which was first presented to the EMC Public Information made too soon. "I didn't know proposals on Monday afternoon, "it needed to be done. Office of Student Activities last Officer Jim Bishop said one of we were that big to have that "It shows how important this issue is to us, and the semester, a full-time sexual the main benefits of the name change," she said. administration has made a wise decision to take our proposals and assault education coordinator will change will be incorporating the While there are plans to implement almost everything." be hired by the fall of 1994. This masters program into the title of expand the school's facilities, The march began at five points on campus: Anthony-Seeger the school. "We now offer an M.A. in MARCH page2 POLICY page 2 COLLEGE page 2 • . 2 THE BREEZE Thursday, March 24,1994 Policy. continued from page 1 David* is a JMU student who has been raped. He said trained, a smaller, more-specific group is not necessary. coordinator will train all 32 members of the judicial that the decision to make the system more accessible to McClintock said she thinks there may have been some council in victimology. males was the "first move this university has made misunderstanding about what SCAR was asking for in By the end of this semester, a third-party anonymous toward admitting that this happens to men." their proposal to change the judicial procedures. reporting system to which non-victims may report sexual David said he has been ridiculed when admitting that She said they were happy that the judicial council assaults will be implemented. he has been raped, and that while making the policy members will be trained to deal with sexual assaults but Currently, the only avenues to officially report a more accessible to men is a first step, there is still a long had also asked that Way not be the only person making sexual assault are through the judicial coordinator and way to go. the initial decision in a sexual assault case. the Office of Public Safety. "For the policy to change, the attitudes have to change "The only thing that we did not win was that Mike There will also be several changes printed in the 1994- as well," he said. 'This is everyone's problem." Way retains that responsibility," she said, adding that 95 JMU Student Handbook. The judicial charge of The administration rejected SCAR's recommendation there should be more discussion on the issue. "sexual misconduct" will be changed to "sexual assault" to change the judicial procedure of the university. This But McClintock said that the group feels like it has and the statement "alcohol may impair a person's ability change would have created a small, highly trained gotten most of what it wanted accomplished, although to give consent" will be added to the handbook. judicial group that would deal specifically with sexual SCAR will continue to work with the administration as The handbook will also inform students that the assault cases. the new policy is implemented. minimum sanction for a conviction of rape or sodomy The statement released by Scott said that this was not may be a one-year suspension. implemented because "the current system provides two SCAR member Laura McClintock said that SCAR alternatives to both the accused and the survivor — an would advocate expulsion but was pleased that the policy administrative option and the University Judicial is being expanded. Council." Scott said the university is trying to make sure the In the administrative option, the university judicial policy is accessible to male victims of sexual assault and coordinator would handle the hearing for a violation of that the language in the handbook does not deter anyone the sexual assault policy.