FIRST PLACE AWARD WINNERS
FROM THE
NEW YORK PRESS ASSOCIATION & AMERICAN SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION
Pace Chronicle The
VOLUME IV, ISSUE XVI
PACE UNIVERSITY, PLEASANTVILLE/BRIARCLIFF MANOR, NY
WWW.PACECHRONICLE.COM
Pace Changes Sexual Assault Policy
THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2015
Honors College Searches for Dean CARLOS VILLAMAYOR MANAGING EDITOR
EMILY WOLFRUM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF After months of revision, Pace has updated its sexual assault policy and redefined consent on campus. According to a schoolwide e-mail from NYC Dean for Students, Marijo RussellO’Grady and Interim Dean for Students on Pleasantville, Rachel Carpenter, these updates also include a new sexual assault resources website and a guide to options, resources, and
support. Consent is now defined affirmatively (“yes means yes”), matching the definition for State University of New York (SUNY) schools. Pace’s policy offers that consent is “a conscious, voluntary, mutually understandable, equal, respectful, continuous, and freely communicated agreement to participate in a sexual encounter.” It further clarifies that neither “lack of protest or resistance” nor silence can be inter-
preted as consent, that it cannot be assumed based on “previous consensual encounters” or a relationship, and that it must be ongoing and is revocable. Consent, according to the updated Pace policy, can also not be given if an individual is “incapacitated.” This term is also defined within the Sex-Based Misconduct Policy and Procedure. “Incapacitation is a state where someone cannot make rational, reasoned decisions. A person may be incapacitated
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due to mental disability, sleep, unconsciousness, physical restraint, or from the consumption (voluntary or otherwise) of incapacitating drugs or quantities of alcohol.” The policy offers that incapacitation should be deducted based upon “physical cues” including “slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, the odor of alcohol on a person’s breath, inability to maintain balance, vomiting, unusual or irrational behavior, and unconsciousness.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 “SEXUAL ASSAULT POLICY”
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Pace faculty and students expressed various concerns at the community-wide open forum meetings last month and in the weeks that followed over the decision to hire a dean for the Pforzheimer Honors College. According to Dr. Ross Robak, Chair of the Psychology Department, faculty members have questioned whether the resources going into hiring a dean could be used to improve the program that already exists, and whether it would have been better if the dean had been selected from among Pace faculty. Freshman Alexandra Franciosa echoed Robak’s first point. “I do not understand why they’re creating a dean for the Honors College when the university isn’t doing well financially,” Franciosa said. “The Honors College already has a full staff, and the university has had to cut classes for economic reasons, which affects the entire student body and the faculty, not just honors students. It makes me wonder who they think of and talk to when making these decisions, because it’s not the student body.” Dr. Adelia Williams, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and chair of the search committee for the new dean, said that Pace faculty were not excluded from applying to the position. Among the prevalent questions during the open meetings was how students and faculty would be assigned once there is an Honors Dean—whether they will remain part of their respective, academic college, or be part of both their college and Honors
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CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 “HONORS DEAN”
SGA ELECTION RESULTS
SLUT: THE PLAY
SPORTS HOLIDAY UPDATE
You voted, now find out who your Student Government executive board will be! Also, find out who will be your school representative.
SLUT, directed by freshman Megan Brown, ended up not only selling out, but also caused riveting discussions amongst peers, students, and faculty.
While many were away celebrating Easter, our sports teams were gearing up for some action, winning four out of the five games played over the weekend.
NEWS, Page 5
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Page 9
SPORTS, Page 11