University faculty, staff, and students packed the University Senate meeting Wednesday for a discussion of the recent allegations of sexual violence on campus.
President Michael Gottfredson used his university update to share information about the incident with the senate, look forward toward ways to improve the campus climate and keep students safe, and to announce new initiatives to address sexual violence prevention and response.
“No one, ever, should have to experience sexual violence, or harassment, or intimidation of any kind,” said Gottfredson. “Not one student, not one member of our staff or faculty, not a single member of our community. This is without question. Yet too many do.”
Gottfredson called the incident incredibly complex and profoundly disturbing. He said it has angered many people, including him.
“We as a campus have an opportunity to take our anger, to take our energy around this issue, and direct it toward a solution. We have an opportunity—I would say a responsibility—to become a leader in the nation in creating a campus that is safe from sexual violence and harassment.”
The president shared some details regarding the report involving three basketball players. He explained the many factors the university had to consider and balance as it took steps to protect students’ privacy, due process, and the ongoing criminal investigation. He acknowledged people’s frustration that the university could not share more details due to privacy laws, but encouraged senators to review a timeline and Q&A posted on the UO News website for a better understanding of the situation.
Gottfredson also outlined several immediate initiatives he is enacting. He’s calling for an independent, external review to examine our campus climate, our recruiting and student education practices in athletics, and our efforts to prevent and respond to sexual violence and intimidation. The overriding goal will be to come away with concrete action to move us forward as a campus in protecting all students.
Gottfredson is also authorizing two additional staff positions, aligned with the recommendations of the White House Task Force and of our VP for Student Affairs, to augment support for survivors. They are:
- Sexual Violence Response and Support Services Director to provide confidential support and advocacy to survivors
- Equal Opportunity Specialist and Title IX Investigator in Affirmative Action to help with an increase in reporting of sexual misconduct we’ve seen recently.
The president took several questions from senators following his remarks.
Senator Harbaugh asked the president why the UO Police Department didn’t receive a copy of the police report from administration.
Gottfredson said that the administration had provided information in a timely manner.
Harbaugh also asked why the action to revise and improve the student code of conduct policy seemed to have not occurred until after the recent sexual assault allegation came to light.
President Paris and Vice President for Student Affairs Robin Holmes answered they actually had been in conversation for many months about improving code of conduct best practices following an external review. That review, the Groves Report, recommended expanding the standard of evidence for student expulsion and expanding the code of conduct jurisdiction, a change requiring senate action. The senate president said that the matter had not moved forward more quickly due to a lengthy process of making it through the senate committee, which also includes many students.
Senator Psaki asked the president what the ingredients are that create poor campus climate.
The president replied that everyone’s voice must be stronger. There is a shared responsibly to tap into the campus expertise make change as a community. “We must personally own it,” he said. “Not be a bystander. We cannot be bystanders when we see harassment or abuse, we all must take action.”
The senate then suspended the rules to call for a new motion to make a statement to “respond to the sexual violence allegations.”
In the debate that followed, Senator Dreiling called on the senate to not point fingers. Echoing the president, he said, “We need to own it, all of us on this campus, not just this administration.”
Senator Dellabough agreed, “We will share this opportunity, working together not by blaming or being suspicious, as we have in the past. We must move beyond that together.”
Following the question and answers, the president left the podium to applause from the senate floor.
When the open discussion wrapped up at 4:25, many in the room left as the meeting moved on to new business. Several motions carried, including a motion to add an ex-officio position for athletics to the Environmental Issues Committee and several changes to various committee requirements.
In the interest of time, the senate agreed to postpone the remaining motions until the following meeting, so those invited to give reports could do so. Andrew Bonamici delivered a report from the LMS Task Force regarding the LMS review process, and Ombudsperson Bruce MacAllister provided an introduction to the Ombuds Office.
The meeting concluded with the brief introduction of two notices of motion: Frank Stahl read a notice of a motion of no confidence on behalf of Nathan Tublitz, who was not present, and John Bonine gave a notice of motion related to changes to the student Code of Conduct.