President’s Review Panel seeks campus input on preventing sexual assault

The chair of the panel reviewing UO’s sexual assault prevention and response efforts sent an email invitation to a public input session scheduled for next week.

Mary Deits, the retired Oregon Court of Appeals chief judge who is chairing the panel, explained the first session will focus on prevention. The panel invited input from campus about what is working to prevent sexual assault and what needs improvement.

“The panel looks forward to engaging with the campus community and gathering a broad range of perspectives,” said Deits. “We need everyone’s participation to help us assist the university in improving its practices to prevent and respond to sexual assault.”

Future public forums will seek information on reporting, services to survivors and other responses to sexual misconduct and assault.

The input session is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 27, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Giustina Ballroom in the Ford Alumni Center. Attendees can sign up to speak 15 minutes before the event and are asked to keep their comments to no longer than three minutes.

The panel has also set up a web form for submitting written comment, and plans to seek additional ways to hear from many perspectives across campus.

The university has placed all of the information about the panel’s work, the charge, public input sessions and written comment as well as the panel’s resources on a web page on Interim President Scott Coltrane’s website.