Story is co-written and edited by Chelsea Komer and Lucy Jones
In recent years, there has been a tremendous and discernible lack of communication about sexual assault between all levels of the hierarchy at Western Carolina University. With this lack of communication comes the lack of awareness about this ever-growing issue while only increasing the stigmatization surrounding the topic. This lack of awareness has created a distorted channel of conversation about the resources and rules set up by the university on how to provide amenities for survivors and punishment for the abusers.
According to the recent Annual Fire Safety and Security Report, WCU has seen a slight increase in sexual assaults. With the student population increasing as well, the resources made available for victims and survivors have not kept pace.
In order to address sexual assault reports and cases properly, the university abides by Policy 53. University Policy 53 states that:
“It is the policy of the University that its employees and students should be free from Sexual Misconduct perpetrated by any University employee, student, visitor to the campus, or any agent or contractor having a business, professional, or educational relationship with the University.”
In an attempt to coordinate responses on sexual assault better, the university established the Sexual Prevention Violence Committee under the compliance of Policy 53 and Title IX. The SVPC consists of 13 members in rolls, such as the Title IX Coordinator, Clery Act Coordinator, Chief Diversity Officer, Dean of Students and a student member appointed by the President of the Student Government Association (SGA).
As a campus committee, the SVPC has responsibilities that include:
- Serve as an advisory body to the Chancellor on matters pertaining to sexual violence, sexual harassment, and related campus safety;
- Assist in the development of and recommend policies and implementing procedures regarding sexual violence and related campus community safety, compliance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations, including Title IX, Clery Act, and the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, and compliance with University of North Carolina policies and directives;
- Assist in the development and delivery of training and professional development for employees;
- Assist in the development and delivery of information and programming for students, particularly in the areas of awareness and primary prevention, safe and effective intervention strategies, factors that contribute to sexual violence such as alcohol and drugs, and diversity and inclusion;
- Assist the Division of Student Affairs in maintaining the University website on sexual assault awareness;
- Assist with the University’s community outreach efforts; and
- Coordinate with faculty, the Title IX Coordinator, and the University’s Institutional Review Board to develop and conduct climate and other related surveys/research.
The SVPC is individually responsible for complying with Title IX, funding and gender equity. In 2011, there were new guidelines released on Gender-Based Discrimination, which focuses on how the committee can comply with those regulations. Despite 13 members on the committee, it is hard to place an exact number of resources and people it takes to handle sexual assault allegations and cases properly.
Wesley Chancey, Title IX Coordinator and Chair of the committee at WCU, plays an important role in the SVPC by being the primary investigator and adjudicator regarding claims of unlawful discrimination, sexual misconduct, and retaliation. From Policy 53, the Title IX Coordinator “shall exercise his or her discretion in conducting the investigation in a timely and efficient manner.”
“The reason we have courts and lawyers is because it’s a difficult thing to handle, and I think we do well [in handling sexual assault cases],” said Chancey.
Shea Browning, the top legal advisor for the university, supervises Chancey as well as administers Policy 53. Browning advises the university related to legal issues regarding campus violence, including sexual assault. Browning stated that he has no direct role in sexual assault instances on campus so he declined a further interview for this story.
Along with the struggles of creating new and effective programming, Chancey said a change he would like to see would be to incorporate more hearing members for the panel to review the sexual assault cases. The committee is duty-bound to serve survivors and address sexual assault allegations immediately. A part of the process of addressing sexual assaults on campus is providing resources that are readily available at any time.
The WCU Campus Police, a primary resource for students, is equipped to handle sexual assault cases. Campus P.D. is heavily involved in hosting the Rape Aggression Defense system course on campus as both a course and an express program. Aside from the R.A.D. course that is offered each semester, Chancey is unaware of any other ongoing programs available. To read more on R.A.D., click here.
Steve Lillard, Chief of Police, maintains an active role when a sexual assault case is reported to the campus Police Department. Depending on the number of resources needed, Lillard has the responsibility of managing the resources and making sure all the correct actions are taken.
“There can be multiple things to do and you want to try to do them all as quickly as possible,” said Lillard.
For sexual assault cases specifically, Lillard and his staff follow the protocol in accordance with Policy 53, which states that suspected sexual misconduct must be reported to campus P.D. and then to Chancey or Student Affairs.
To hear what Lillard had to say about sexual assault on campus, click the video below.
Video was filmed and edited by Morgan Miller.
As a freshman enrolling at WCU, one of the first requirements is taking courses that educate incoming students on the dangers that can arise from being under the influence of drugs and alcohol (Alcohol EDU and HAVEN). In addition, the university kicks off each semester with the ‘Red Zone‘ campaign. The Red Zone refers to the period of time during a student’s first or second year at college when they are more likely to experience sexual violence and/or manipulation. This campaign gives students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to gain an understanding of the importance of consent and how to access resources on campus. The problem is that there is a discrepancy between the resources recommended and the many other resources available to students.
The SVPC meets once a semester if they feel it is necessary. Due to there being so many members of the committee, they organize sub-groups that meet much more often – as much as once a week. Chancey said in a follow-up email that this is done to provide services to the parties and begin the investigatory process quickly.
This begs the question of whether or not students are being made aware of their resources. With a student population of over 11,000 and growing, there is not an easy way of addressing sexual assault. Having to reach out to Student Affairs to inquire about ongoing resources, perhaps Chancey and the SVPC, a prevention-driven committee, is simply unaware of the resources necessary for sexual assault awareness. When asked about the concerns relating to sexual assault on WCU’s campus, Chancey believes that when you have people on a college campus experimenting with sex and alcohol, lines could get crossed, which often times they do.
Students will always have resources such as the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), but for sexual assault survivors, their next course of action may not be immediate. The student health services, Bird, does not offer rape kits. Chancey does not believe that there is much of a difference between driving a couple of miles to Harris Regional Hospital (the distance from WCU to HRH is roughly seven miles) and having the access to a rape kit right on campus. Harris Regional Hospital only provides rape kits to people 18 or older so occasionally a victim is having to drive to Swain County to receive a rape kit. Just like any other college campus, not every student on campus is of that age, which turns a seven-mile drive into 17 miles.
Chancey understands the difficulty in handling sexual assault cases. Each case the committee and university takes on is different. The repercussions of any crime depend on the severity of the acts committed. When asked how the repercussions would vary in sexual assault scenarios where a person was found to have committed an act of violence, Chancey said that while an inappropriate touch would not warrant severe punishment, forcible rape would “probably” lead to expulsion.
If the survivor’s concern is not that the culpable person will get away freely, then perhaps the concern is that the survivor themselves will be the one punished instead. Sexual assault can be difficult, especially when there are two people speaking in confidence with different versions of the story.
“One thing that prevents people from getting in touch with us is that they think we are going to punish them,” said Chancey.
When it comes to safety on campus and ensuring that acts of violence are not being committed, Chancey advises students not to drink. However, in a world between rational and reality, what may be rational is not what is always reality.
