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Arson: A Student Lab Musical
With a focus on classical music, Trinity Theater Department sets the stage aflame.
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Men’s Hoops Dominate in Final Home Games
On Senior Night, men push winning streak to six games with a 52-48 win over Colorado College.
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A Foray into the Abyss of Online Dating
The Dating Game: A Four Part series by A&E columnist Maddie Smith
theTrinitonian Volume 111, Issue 17
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www.trinitonian.com
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Serving Trinity University Since 1902
• February 07, 2014
Student frustration expressed at Sexual Assault Town Hall
Students demand answers regarding the appeals process, trust in the university and overall policy by Faith Ozer
NEWS REPORTER Following a surge of student and community attention around sexual assault, Trinity’s Student Government Association (SGA) held a town hall meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 5 in the Fiesta Room to create a campus dialogue about the university’s sexual assault policies and procedures. The panel included six community members: Stephen Bachrach, distinguished professor, chair of the chemistry department and Title IX coordinator; David Tuttle, dean of students and vice president for student affairs; Rick Giprich, member support & advocacy program director for the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault; Melissa Flowers, assistant director for residential education; Barbara Berkova and Sarah Miller, co-chairs of the student conduct board and Peter Perez, assistant chief of the Trinity University Police Department (TUPD). “It seems to me that this year has kind of been at this low-level simmer all year ‘round about
why and how some [assaults are reported], and then, finally, as we came into this semester, it kind of sparked,” said Evan Lewis, SGA president. “I don’t know what did it, exactly, but the time was just right to have a conversation, so Dean Tuttle and myself put it together.” In light of national news coverage as well as recent Trinity attention, the topic of sexual assaults on campus has raised many questions. According to Lewis and Tuttle, the town hall sought to open a dialogue within the Trinity community and serve as an educational setting for discussion of campus policies and procedures in dealing with reports of sexual assault. The Process Extensions of the Title IX legislation made in 2011 mandate that when a sexual assault is reported to the university, Trinity has an obligation to investigate it. This process is continued by the University Conduct Board (UCB), composed of three faculty, two staff and two students who rotate to hear each case. Tuttle acts as a facilitator during the UCB process, but is non-voting and absent during decision making. This process and its sanction is separate from the judicial system. According to Perez, if a student wishes to pursue an assault legally, TUPD corresponds with the university, then forwards any information to the San Antonio
photo by Anh-Viet Dinh Senior Abby Peak (left) looks out from behind seniors Graham Bates (middle) and Caroline Cramer (middle right) during statements and questions made throughout the town hall in the Fiesta Room.
District Attorney’s office. This process is estimated to take three to four days, and at that point the district attorney can choose whether to further investigate the case or not. If legally pursued, both sides of the report will be investigated within the criminal justice system. During the town hall students asked questions regarding details of the UCB appeal process, particularly the ability and circumstances under which
an accused student can file for an appeal. According to Flowers, who facilitates the Conduct Review Board as a non-voting member, both the accuser and the accused have the option to appeal a decision to the board. As stated on the university webpage, written appeals must be made within five class days of the date of the decision. Flowers said that if procedural errors are significant enough as to suggest an unfair hearing, the sanction may be
reviewed. Methods of restorative justice are not procedural during sexual assault cases. When concerns from students were voiced about the sexual history of the accused or the survivor being exposed during the hearing, administrators reassured that this was prohibited. Tuttle agreed that this should be added to the language of the current sexual assault policies.
Road closures and freezing precipitation causes Trinity to delay the start of classes
In light of the situation, the university, along with other local school districts and universities, pushed back class times for students to ensure that conditions were safe and good for travel. Thursday night, Jan. 23, the university sent out an email informing students and faculty that there was “anticipation of another wave of freezing temperatures and the potential for freezing precipitation.” Following the continued weather conditions, the school closed classes early in the day, urging “faculty, staff and students traveling to campus...to use their best judgment about road conditions and report to campus when it is safe to do so.” To many students, the prospect of missing class was certainly appealing, although many were unsure if the weather justified such action. To sophomore Zach Wilson the prospect of a day off was more than enough.
“‘I’m from outside of Texas, so I don’t really sympathize with the whole “It’s 35 degrees and slightly icy outside, it’s practically the apocalypse,” perspective,” Wilson said. “Still, I found it frustrating to be teased with the possibility that classes would be canceled only to have them be delayed. Once I knew that cancellation was a possibility, I didn’t have it in me to do any homework. I spent the evening bundled up in warm clothes watching Netflix.” To other students as well, the aim for canceled classes remained strong. However, to many, especially those living off campus, the dangers of the conditions had to be noted. To senior Jim Stryker, Texas is quite different from other places further north, including his home state Nebraska, so he has to handle these situations differently.
see STUDENTS Page 3
Winter weather causes university to postpone class for safety
by Luke Wise NEWS REPORTER
photo by Anh-Viet Dinh Icecicles drip from the hood of a student’s car in addition to a frozen windshield.
Last week, following low temperatures and freezing rain, the university delayed classes for students on the 24th, pushing back start times to 9:30 am. The winter storm, rolling in on Thursday night, included freezing rain, sleet and ice. By Friday morning, many major roads were closed down, including the Interstate 10 and Loop 410 interchange and the U.S. 281 connection to Loop 1604. San Antonio police reported that 173 accidents, along with 414 minor accidents, occcurred during the freeze.
see WEATHER Page 4