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Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Volume 120, Issue 112
UT to change sexual misconduct policies to terminate, name violators By Lauren Grobe @grobe_lauren
he University announced substantial changes to its sexual misconduct policies Monday morning. These include a termination policy for UT faculty or employees who are found to have committed certain forms of sex discrimination deemed as “unacceptable behaviors,” according to a campuswide email from President Gregory Fenves. The changes come as a result of a review of UT’s sexual misconduct policies by law firm Husch Blackwell. The firm’s first report was released to the public Monday. Fenves said in the email that the University has accepted all of the firm’s recommendations. He said UT would implement three major changes based on the recommendations: the consolidation of survivor resources, the termination of certain policy violators and the release of the names of employees who violate certain policies. “If any UT faculty or staff member is found — after a thorough investigation — to have committed sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking or interpersonal violence, the presumptive punishment will be termination,” Fenves said in the email. The recommendations only apply to future policy and do not allow the University to retroactively terminate previous policy violators, such as English associate professor Coleman Hutchison and Sahotra Sarkar, integrative biology and philosophy professor, Husch Blackwell attorney Scott Schneider said. “The default is going to be separation from the institution, as opposed to now where there isn’t a default,” Schneider said. The report recommends the consideration of unique circumstances in cases where termination may not be necessary. Another recommendation is that the University release the names of employees who violate sexual misconduct policies but are still employed. Husch Blackwell was hired in November to review the University’s
sexual misconduct policies, according to the contract between the law firm and the University. Three lawyers from the firm held stakeholder meetings on campus and worked with the Misconduct Working Group to form their initial recommendations. The report also recommends the University clearly define sexual misconduct, require sex discrimination training, implement stricter Title IX investigation timelines and consolidate sex discrimination resources into one office. Currently, the University has three offices that deal with sex discrimination cases. Schneider said there are many resources for survivors on campus, but they were scattered and not well-advertised. “There’s a marketing problem here,” Schneider said. “There are tons of resources, and I’m not sure that students know about the existing resources. My concern is because of that, they go underutilized.” Another recommendation the University will implement is working with restorative justice experts, such as those in the Steve Hicks School of Social Work, to offer additional solutions to survivors, Fenves said in the email. Restorative justice programs focus on bringing together offenders and victims to allow for healing and understanding between both parties. One of the demands of the Coalition Against Sexual Misconduct was the implementation of a restorative justice program. Schneider said they included this recommendation to create more informal resolution options and help the community affected by a Title IX case. “When we have one of these cases, not only is the claimant and the respondent impacted, but a whole department can be impacted,” Schneider said. “Using restorative justice principles and vehicles (can) fix harm that the community has experienced.” According to the report, Husch Blackwell will continue to make other recommendations related to the organization of Title IX compliance offices, the investigation process when upcoming federal regulations are released, the effects of sexual misconduct on third parties and how the University can ensure sanctions remain consistent.
eddie gaspar
/ the daily texan file
Students hold a sit-in on the third floor of the Main Building right outside the provost’s office on Oct. 25, 2019. The University has since announced that it will begin to implement changes to its sexual misconduct policies.
christina peebles
/ the daily texan staff
STATE
Democratic primary candidates put forth final effort in Texas By Hannah Williford @HannahWillifor2
Democratic presidential primary candidates visited Texas to make their final case to voters ahead of Super Tuesday. Remaining candidates former Vice President Joe Biden, billionaire Michael Bloomberg, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren are each looking for which state they will focus on going into Super Tuesday, when 14 state primaries will take place. Joshua Blank, manager of polling and research at the Texas Politics Project, said Texas has the second largest amount of delegates, but it can be a difficult state for candidates to focus on. A large part of investments are dependent on how candidates did in earlier races, such as New Hampshire and Iowa, Blank said. “(Candidates are) thinking about where they’re most likely to be successful, but they’re also looking at
the expense of success,” Blank said. “Texas is a difficult state because Texas is so large. It has so many large and expensive media markets.” Blank said candidates did not initially focus on Texas because Texan candidates former Rep. Beto O’Rourke and Julian Castro, former Housing and Urban Development secretary, were running earlier in the race. Blank said Elizabeth Warren was the exception, setting up field offices in Texas early in the race, followed by Bernie Sanders. According to the Dallas Morning News, Warren has made nine appearances at Texas events since the beginning of 2019. Warren has offices in Austin, Houston and San Antonio. Katya Ehresman, UT Students for Warren member, said she has seen Warren’s involvement with Texas through her endorsements of local candidates, such as that of José Garza, Travis County district attorney candidate. C A N D I D A T E S PAGE 3
alice liu
/ the daily texan staff
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