For all of the Oxy parents, alumni, and friends who have wondered what they can do to help make Oxy a safer campus, we are pleased to announce the formation of the Oxy Community Against Sexual Assault (OCASA). You can like their Facebook page by clicking the image below or visiting the link here.
Thank you to all of the amazing and supportive people who have supported survivors across our campus.
Occidental College is unique in its overwhelming support for those working toward creating a better campus for current and future generations at Oxy. Thank you, OCASA!
OMAR + OSAC Present: Sleepover for Sexual Assault Awareness!
The Title IX and Clery Federal Complaints Against Occidental College: A Legal Framework
Are you confused about the federal complaints that OSAC is filing for Title IX and Clery? Here’s a quick overview of federal laws governing schools’ treatment of sexual misconduct on college campuses:
Title IX:
Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 is a piece of federal legislation which bans sex discrimination in school education programs or activities. The law states that, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance . . .” The law was amended in 1987 to include any operation of an institution receiving federal funding. The Office of Civil Rights is responsible for enforcing Title IX and has released regulations for institutions to follow in compliance with Title IX. Title IX violations include withholding or providing different benefits or services, upholding different regulations or treatment, assisting a discriminating organization, and restricting any opportunity, right, privilege, or advantage. In order to prevent or remedy these violations, educational institutions are required to issue notices of nondiscrimination and designate an employee responsible for coordinating Title IX compliance.
For more information about Title IX, check out the Department of Justice Website.
Dear Colleague Letter:
The Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) is an updated guideline of appropriate institutional conduct regarding sexual violence under Title IX of the Higher Education Act of 1972. The letter was issued on April 4, 2011 by the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Russlyn Ali. The letter obligates learning institutions to provide safe and fair access to a school’s education program and activities and lays out specific policies and actions to prevent or eliminate the hostile environment created by sexual violence. These obligations include 1) a formal internal grievance system in which sexual violence can be reported, processed, and met with “prompt and equitable resolution,” 2) a designated, trained Title IX coordinator to ensure compliance with the terms of the letter, 3) cooperation between the institution’s law enforcement unit and the Title IX coordinator, 4) proactive measures of education and prevention, 4) counseling and training for broader student population and specified staff, and 5) periodic internal investigation to assess environment and effectiveness of efforts.
For more, see the full text of the Dear Colleague Letter on Sexual Violence.
Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education:
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is in the United States Department of Education (ED). OCR is responsible for enforcing Title IX in institutions that receive ED funds. They carry out this responsibility through compliance enforcement. The principal enforcement activity is the investigation and resolution of complaints filed by people alleging sex discrimination. Also, through agency-initiated reviews of selected recipients, OCR is able to identify and remedy sex discrimination that may not be addressed through complaint investigations.
For more detailed information about the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education, please click here!
Clery Act:
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (known as the Clery Act) is a federal law requiring United States colleges and universities to disclose information about crime on and around their campuses. The Act is enforced by the United States Department of Education.
The Clery Act requires colleges and unviersities to do the following with regards to sexual assault reports: 1) Publish an Annual Security Report (ASR), 2) Disclose crime statistics for incidents that occur on campus, in unobstructed public areas immediately adjacent to or running through the campus and at certain non-campus facilities, 3) Issue timely warnings about Clery Act crimes which pose a serious or ongoing threat to students and employees, 4) Devise an emergency response, notification, and testing policy.
For more detailed information about the Clery act, click here.
The Oxy Sexual Assault Coalition (OSAC) is collecting information about the effectiveness of Occidental’s first-year Orientation programming, particularly its coverage of sexual assault. We welcome your thoughts and suggestions on improving Oxy’s Orientation programming. We hope that this information will be useful in improving Oxy’s Orientation programming for first-year students and create a more safe and equitable campus for all.
Please click the link here to share your thoughts. Thank you!!
Are you an Oxy man against rape? Do you want to become more involved on campus? Professors Richard Mora (Sociology) and James Ford (ECLS) are holding a meeting with male allies to discuss building campus efforts at Oxy: Wednesday 4/3 5:45-6:30 PM JSC Salsbury-Young. From their invitation:
As you know, there has been much discussion about the role men can play to make our campus safe for all students. And, we’d like to discuss both ways in which the faculty can support your efforts and the possibility of establishing a group composed of Oxy men committed to ending sexual assaults at Oxy. Please feel free to bring fellow male allies to the meeting.
Date: Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Time: 5:45pm – 6:30pm
Location: JSC Salsbury-YoungWe hope to see you there.
Best,
Professors Richard Mora (Sociology) and James Ford (ECLS)
OSAC’s Title IX complaint won’t be a first for Oxy. In 1993, the Feminist Consciousness Coalition filed a complaint against Oxy for their treatment of sexual harassment. Here’s an alumni comment we received on the OSAC website today:
I am an alumni of Oxy (1993) who continues to contribute to the school and can imagine my daughter attending in a few years if she wishes…I was the co-chair of a group called Feminist Consciousness Coalition.
We also filed a title IX complaint to the Dept of Education/Office for Civil rights, regarding sexual harassment and the misogyny rife at that time in the campus fraternity system. The school was found to be in part violation of law in regards to our complaint and improved the sexual harassment policy as a result.
I was also a ‘student advocate’ for a classmate who had been raped and remember well the many failings of that strange idea to prosecute such an allegation.
I am sad yet not surprised that 20 years on we continue to face many of the same structural barriers to women’s safety and gender equity. If there are things alumni might to do support your coalition, let me know and I can let my other alumni friends know in turn. As we were preceded by strong women and allied men in our struggles, so are you now.
For anyone who thinks these struggles are new to Occidental, they’re clearly wrong. Thank you so much to the amazing alumni (and faculty members going through their archives) who have been reaching out to us. We applaud your long-standing efforts in paving the way for all of us in the struggle to make Oxy a safe and equitable learning environment.
Please join Oxy Alliance for Autonomy for a Campus Art Project on Sexual Assault this week on The Quad.
Monday, March 18 11:30 AM – Wednesday, March 20 1:30 PM
What do YOU have to say about sexual assault at Oxy?
This Monday through Wednesday (March 18-20) Alliance for Autonomy is organizing a COMMUNITY ART PROJECT in the quad. We will provide the art supplies for you to express your thoughts through words, drawings, collage or otherwise. All are welcome to participate. Finished art will be displayed in the quad.
What ideas, feelings, questions, or concerns do you want to share? You can add anything, but PLEASE be respectful and considerate!
Hope to see you there! Bring your opinions and creativity!
We hope you’ll join the chorus of voices on Occidental’s campus to address sexual assault issues. Thank you to the Alliance for Autonomy for designing and organizing this event!
Oxy Sexual Assault Coalition / Occidental College / Los Angeles, CA 