Bowdoin has adopted a new Student Sexual Assault and Misconduct Policy that aims to make it easier to address matters of sexual assault and misconduct on campus.
"In my 10.5 years at Bowdoin, the Sexual Misconduct Board has handled only two cases," said Dean of Student Affairs Tim Foster. "Each year, however, we receive a handful of reports, some anonymous, of assault, but the alleged victim is unwilling for a variety of reasons to take any formal action."
The new policy [read full text], adapted from the University of Virginia (UVA), now offers three different ways to handle a sexual assault case. The old policy listed only two alternatives: mediation and formal hearings. The new policy provides the additional option of a structured meeting with staff from the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs.
"It seems to be key to have a kind of middle road in between the other two options," Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Dean of First Year Students Mary Pat McMahon said. "It's a big benefit to students."
"It's thoughtful and realistic in the context of a college campus," she added.
The new policy defines sexual assault as "a clear intention to harm another and ignore another person's wishes. Sexual misconduct occurs without intentions to harm another but when the assailant fails to gain 'effective consent.'"
Effective consent is defined as "words or actions that show a voluntary agreement to engage in mutually agreed-upon sexual activity."
McMahon said that there are no predetermined outcomes prescribed in the policy.
"First we want to be responsive to the different situations we are presented with, and then over time begin to build a precedent for other cases," she said.
Foster said he hopes that "the new policy and associated process...may encourage complaints to come forwards, create a smaller and better prepared board for cases of formal adjudication which should be less intimidating to all, and will be good for all parties involved?complainant, respondent, and the board."
Initial concerns were raised about the new policy by members of Bowdoin Student Government (BSG).
"A central concern during the BSG meeting [regarding the new policy] was about gender equality on the Sexual Assault and Misconduct Board, because it is not explicit in the document itself that the board will never be composed of a single gender," said BSG President DeRay Mckesson '07.
"Dean McMahon and I have spoken and the gender equality issue has been adequately addressed," Mckesson added. "According to Dean McMahon, in the document called Guidelines for Respondents that is currently used in judicial cases, there is a section which specifically explains that the respondent has the right to have each gender represented on the Board."
Another BSG concern was student education about the new policy.
"It's somewhat worrisome that students were not more informed about the policy at the time of its enactment," said Vice President of Student Affairs Carolyn Chu '07.
"We're concerned that there's no summary of the policy for students to view, and that they won't be inclined to read such an extensive, dense document. We're looking forward to having that as soon and as effectively as possible," she said.
There will be an information session on the new policy on Monday at 8 p.m. in Lancaster Lounge. McMahon also said that additional "planning for meetings and information sessions is underway right now, and will most likely appear next month."
Bowdoin's Sexual Assault Response Resource Team (SARRT) will also attempt to educate students about the new policy.
"We will have a high profile speaker come to campus that specializes in sexual violence prevention law, policy, and programming," said Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Joann Canning, who heads SARRT. According to Canning, there will also be other speakers and initiatives brought to campus during April, which is Sexual Awareness Month.
"Some of the other ideas are to poster campus with a campaign about consent which directs students to review the new policy," Canning said. "We may also be handing out condoms that are marked with phrases such as 'Got Consent?', 'Is this OK?'"
"Laminated copies of the policy or a CliffsNotes version of it may be placed in bathrooms around campus," Canning added.