by Cole Hiller
Cases of sexual assault and rape are unfortunately relevant on campus. Safety when going out is very important, and the general student population is aware of how to stay safe and recognize when someone else is in an unsafe situation. On an institutional level, there is the Title IX office which is meant to help from many different aspects, from education, prevention, to support for victims. While the Title IX office has gone through some changes, under its newest leader, John Perrin, it seems to be going in the right direction.
I interviewed a student who has experience with the Title IX office in both its current form and as it was before Perrin. They talked about how, before Perrin, the office was not focused around compassion for the student, but rather shuffled them back and forth between different people. The office made them tell their story so many times they got tired of it, all with the goal of trying to get to have some sort of slip up, or inconsistency. They did not take into account the students preferences for who to talk to, or respecting the students boundaries. The office closed the case despite it being still unresolved.
In 2018, according to an article by The Advocate-Messenger, more than 100 students participated in a sit-in at Old Centre as a way to protest the handling of discrimination and racism on the campus. With a list of 44 demands, their protest led to many changes including the hiring of a full time Diversity Inclusion Director, hiring that reflects the demographics of campus and the creation of a multicultural space. There was also a change for the Title IX office, which demanded that the coordinator is visible to the Centre community and made available for students going through an investigative process. Then there was a few years of transition where the office was a mess. Before 2020, there was no official full time Title IX coordinator or office. But in the summer of 2020, new legislation changed how colleges had to investigate Title IX. As a result they had to create a dedicated Title IX office and hire a coordinator who left after a few months, leaving the office in disarray. After an interim coordinator, the office finally got to where it is today. These changes put the Title IX office, as well as Centre as a whole, in the right direction.
So while the Office had a bit of a rough past, it’s on the right track and more organized than ever.
Now, you can report a sexual assault using a form on CentreNet. It’s located under Campus Life, Title IX and Sexual Misconduct, then finally, Make a Report. There is a safety exit you can press to quickly exit the page, and a short few paragraphs providing a link to the sexual misconduct policy, business hours and an explanation of the Clery Act. The form is anonymous, though one can choose to put identifying information. In certain cases, a Crime Bulletin may have to be sent out under the Clery Act, but no identifying information will be disclosed in this. The final paragraph includes a link to the counseling page.
The form itself requires the user to input the type of assault, urgency, when and where it happened. An additional section lets the user input people involved, whether perpetrators or bystanders. The next section has the user describe the situation and finally a section to add any supporting documentation.
Or you could set up an appointment with Perrin instead. The student I interviewed chose to speak with him directly instead of using the form. They had good things to say about Perrin, noting his compassionate attitude throughout the process. Their case is being investigated. Unlike the administrators of the previous office, Perrin doesn’t shuffle them around. He answers their questions, lets them be as involved or uninvolved in the investigation as they want and he has a focus on investigating cases to the full extent.
I met with Perrin and in my interview with him, this care definitely came across. He’s a laid back guy, but he very clearly cares about the work that he is doing and wants to help students.
Sexual assault and rape incidents are under reported, because many victims can feel hesitant and disempowered to speak out. One potential way of resolving (at least some of this issue) that he mentioned was using web traffic to see if someone is looking for information, but does not make a report. While I may be a little skeptical of this out of a concern of privacy (whether founded or unfounded) I can appreciate the fact that his office is working to close this gap in some way.
Another component he talked about in solving this issue is instilling trust in people so they are comfortable reporting. One controversy when Perrin took office was that he was a man. Many may not feel inclined to report and talk about an incident out of discomfort that the person they are reporting to won’t take them seriously or won’t have compassion for them. But my student interviewee said that particular issue has been resolved and most students generally have a good view of Perrin himself, this issue may still be there in residual, along with the discomfort many may have in seeking help from the institution, which is an understandable hesitation.
In that regard, Perrin made it clear in our interview how he values the mental health of the student over pursuing an investigation. Making a report does not mean you have to pursue an investigation. While he may reach out to you to make sure you’re doing okay and provide resources (such as Centre Counselling, which you should check out if you haven’t already!), he will not make you pursue an investigation.
Finally, prevention is an important part of all of this. Training and education play a major role in reducing incidents that would involve the Title IX Office. With training, the problem that Perrin identified is a lack of reach. As of now, the people who are primarily trained on consent and recognizing and stopping potential unsafe situations are athletes, RAs, FYMs and first years. There’s a problem in extending this to the rest of the student population.
Having everyone well trained is important, but in the meantime I think awareness is also important. Awareness is being aware of the issue, as well as being aware if someone looks like they are in an uncomfortable situation. Most may guess that the frat house are the most relevant places when it comes to assault. Safety at frats is important, and frat attendance is unlikely to stop. Going out with friends, as well as staying out of areas with a high density of people may be some easy ways to make going out a little safer.
I want to encourage anyone who is a victim of a sexual crime to reach out, whether it’s someone you know and trust, or on a hotline. It’s better to struggle with someone than alone.
Incidents can be random and unpredictable. They can happen even when one tries everything in their power to prevent it from happening. And while the world won’t be perfect, I just want to remind you to surround yourself with people you trust and make you feel safe and to make the decision to reach out if you are struggling. While accurate statistics and resolving cases may be important, nothing is more important than getting the help you need in a difficult time.
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-4673
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-787-7233
Sexual Violence Resource Center of Bluegrass: 859-253-2511
Green House 17: 800-544-2022