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Memorandum |
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To: |
Temple University Community |
From: |
President Neil D. Theobald |
Date: |
October 3, 2014 |
Subject: |
Presidential Committee on Campus Sexual Misconduct |
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To the Temple University Community:
Amid heightened national attention to sexual misconduct on college campuses, I want to ensure that Temple is providing the most effective services for the university community, following exemplary procedures for handling reports of sexual assault and related offenses, and promoting ongoing awareness of the university's policies and prevention efforts.
To proactively address one of the most significant issues facing colleges and universities, I have created the Presidential Committee on Campus Sexual Misconduct, to be chaired by Laura Siminoff, Dean of the College of Health Professions and Social Work. The committee's charge is (1) to conduct a university-wide climate survey to better understand perceptions of the issue and how it affects the Temple community, (2) to review current policies and practices, including those involving education and fairness to all parties, and (3) to assess best practices from other institutions. Conducting climate surveys is among the recommendations put forth in the first report of the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault, and it will be one of the essential tasks for Temple's committee.
The Presidential Committee on Campus Sexual Misconduct convened September 15 and will make recommendations to me early in 2015. I will review the findings and report them to the Board of Trustees and to the university community in the spring semester.
I want to thank all the committee members, especially Dean Siminoff, who has special expertise in health communication research and behavioral interventions. Joining her as members are Alice J. Hausman, Chair and Professor, Department of Public Health; Bernie Newman, Associate Professor, School of Social Work; Richard Greenstein, Professor, Beasley School of Law; Charles J. Leone, Executive Director, Campus Safety Services; Stephanie Ives, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students; Sherryta Freeman, Senior Associate Athletic Director, Compliance and Student-Athlete Affairs; and Sandra Foehl, Director of Equal Opportunity Compliance and Title IX Coordinator. Cameron Etezady, Associate University Counsel, will advise the committee. Our student body will be represented by Blair Alston and Brittany Lewis, members of the Temple Student Government administration, as well as Nicholas Perugini of the College of Health Professions and Social Work. Students Laurie Ann Maurer and Mary Kate Kalinich, joined by Research Associate Kristin Kopec, are providing administrative support to the committee.
Even as the committee begins its work, I can assure you that members of the Temple community take issues of sexual misconduct very seriously. I also know we are all committed to identifying ways in which we can further enhance the university's broad range of resources to address these serious and complex matters. Again, I thank everyone on the committee for his or her willingness to serve the university. I expect that committee members will provide thoughtful recommendations that are informed by their unique perspectives and unified by the goal of providing a healthy, safe environment for all members of the Temple community.
Neil D. Theobald
President |
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