ARTS PAGES 19
FORUM End partisan culture in DC 11
ROSE REVAMP
SPORTS Judges to focus on team races 13 The IndependenT STudenT newSpaper
the
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BrandeIS unIverSITy SInce 1949
Justice
Volume LXVII, Number 1
www.thejustice.org
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
STUDENT LIFE
DRAWING A CROWD
Sexual assault policy shuffles ■ The Special Examiner’s
Process left the two students involved with concerns on the University’s protocol. By MARISSA DITKOWSKY JUSTICE EDITOR
This summer, the University’s protocol regarding cases of sexual misconduct among students has been publicly scrutinized—by both a student who claims to have survived multiple sexual assaults and the student he accused of assaulting him. The accused student was found guilty after the Special Examiner’s Process, but only received a disciplinary warning and sanctions to complete a special educational cur-
Waltham, Mass.
riculum. However, both students involved claimed that the University mishandled their case. Since the University’s actions during the investigation process have been reported on by the national media, several measures to reevaluate and improve the way in which Brandeis handles reported sexual assault cases have been taken. Since Joseph Babeu ’15, who initially filed a Community Standards Report against the accused student, posted a letter that the University sent to him explaining the results of the Special Examiner’s Process for his case to Facebook, the Brandeis community has led an outcry via social media rallying support for him. The accused student has asked to remain anonymous. Many students reposted the let-
See PROTOCOL, 7 ☛
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
LaFarr chosen as executive director ■ The University has hired
Michael LaFarr to manage the Psychological Counseling Center and Health Center. By KATHRYN BRODY AND MARISSA DITKOWSKY JUSTICE EDITORIAl ASSISTANT AND EDITOR
This July, the University appointed Michael LaFarr, the former associate director of the Psychological Counseling Center, to take over the position of executive director of the University’s Health and Wellness Resources. LaFarr will oversee the Psychological Counseling Center and the Golding Health Center, and work closely with Assistant Vice President for Health and Wellness and Director of Athletics Sheryl Sousa ’90. The position was created after Hodgins Beckley Consulting, a consulting firm specializing in higher education health care management, released a review of Brandeis’ health and wellness resources last November. The review was commissioned by the administration in order to give a detailed overview of the status of the
health and wellness resources. Various organizational problems were revealed by the review, according to a November 5 Justice article, and the administration stated then that it hoped to address these problems by installing an executive director. Among the problems noted was a lack of communication within the Health Center. At the PCC, the review stated that the “wait times for intake appointments can be a serious concern.” Most students who are new patients to the PCC, according to the report, are not necessarily seen within the oneweek period that the center advertises as its maximum admittance time. In an email to the Justice, LaFarr wrote that his new position is concerned with a “wellness component [that] is about proactive/health education and outreach efforts in ... three areas,” which include the PCC, the Health Center and nutrition thereby solving the communication gap noted in the report. Dr. Robert Berlin, the former senior director of the PCC, has retired. And in addition to her current position as senior associate director, Joy von Steiger has been named clinical
See LAFARR, 7 ☛
MORGAN BRILL/the Justice
Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel addressed incoming first-years at the convocation ceremony this Sunday afternoon on Chapels Field.
STUDENT ACTIVISM
University responds to petition
■ The University published a
plan to address the concerns of Brandeis Students Against Sexual Violence. By HANNAH WULKAN JUSTICE EDITORIAl ASSISTANT
On June 12, the University published a response to a petition created on April 8 by Brandeis Students Against Sexual Violence—a group that formed in the spring and is not recognized by the University as a club or group—which garnered 2,706 signatures as of press time. The petition listed a set of demands made to the University, calling for it to revise and expand protocols and resources for handling reported sexual assaults. In the petition, B.SASV listed 11 specific demands, asking for clear and accessible information on existing reporting paths, options and resources,
a permanent on-call crisis response counselor, a psychologist on the Psychological Counseling Center staff who specializes in sexual trauma, violence and assault for long-term counseling and proper training of University staff, faculty and administrators on the roles and responsibilities of mandated reporters and responsible employees under Title IX. The group also asked for workshops addressing pro-social bystander intervention, effective consent and healthy relationships at Orientation and throughout the entire school year, specific sexual assault response training of Brandeis police, an effective campus-wide campaign to combat rape culture, awareness of non-abusive sexual behavior and list of resources as part of party registration process, safety networks for students and engaging broader campus resources and a permanent rape crisis center. On the University’s website, a webpage posted in June responded to each
See B.SASV, 3 ☛
Iconic professor passes
Into the box
Provost departs
Former English Professor Allen Grossman was a champion for poetry and the humanities.
The men’s soccer team begins the year ranked No. 17 in the country
Steve Goldstein ’78 will leave the position after serving for about four years
FEATURES 8 For tips or info email editor@thejustice.org
request individually, explaining exactly what they have planned. On Aug. 21, Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel wrote in an email to students that the University has created a website that lists sexual assault services and reporting procedures and processes. They have also published two different resource guides that will be widely available around campus called “A Resource Guide for Sexual Assault Survivors” and “Sexual Assault on Campus: Supporting Our Students—A Step-by-Step Guide for Faculty and Staff.” In the response, the University said it also plans to work with Sheila McMahon, the first sexual assault services and prevention specialist who was hired last academic year to expand sexual assault emergency response services to a 24/7 model. They have established a new student-run Rape Crisis Center located by McMahon’s
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INDEX
SPORTS 16 ARTS SPORTS
17 16
EDITORIAL FEATURES
10 8
OPINION POLICE LOG
10 2
NEWS 3 COPYRIGHT 2014 FREE AT BRANDEIS. Email managing@thejustice.org for home delivery.