Given the importance of the issue of sexual assault prevention and response at Williams, we want to keep alumni informed of the ongoing work we are doing. Our goal remains unchanged. We must reduce as quickly and effectively as possible the harm caused by sexual violence at Williams, and ultimately eliminate such violence. This work is multifaceted, involving prevention that reduces the prevalence of assault, assistance for survivors that supports their recovery, and investigation and adjudication processes that are fair and effective.
The best prevention and response work is grounded in community assessments that gather information from a variety of sources, and for this reason Williams created a comprehensive survey instrument in 2014-15. We had multiple goals in the development of this EphCASA (EphCommunity Attitudes on Sexual Assault) survey. One goal was to update and enrich the basic prevalence data from the 2011 American College Health Association survey: to learn how frequently students are experiencing sexual violence, dating violence, and stalking, and in what contexts and with what dynamics. Another goal was to better understand student resource access: perceptions of support and accountability resources on- and off-campus; who uses which resources and the helpfulness of those; and to gain a better understanding of which resources are seen or experienced as less accessible. Finally, the data helps us to improve our education and prevention programming by highlighting areas for additional knowledge and skill-building, policy development, and professional development for staff and faculty.
The creation of the survey tool in summer and fall of 2014 was a joint project of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program, the Title IX Committee for Student Concerns, the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness working group, and the Office of Institutional Research. The elements of the survey are based on validated measures from researchers in the field, guidance from the federal government’s notalone.gov guide to conducting campus climate surveys, and the thinking of our colleagues at MIT and a consortium of our peer institutions. The survey and its results were published last Spring. The full, annotated survey is available here, and the results of the survey are here. While it’s clear from these data that students view many of the college’s policies and resources positively, it’s also clear that we need to continue to work tirelessly to reduce the appalling frequency of sexual violence, as well as dating violence and stalking.
We have already used the survey data to strengthen and develop new student and staff trainings to address particular needs and issues. For example, we have created new trainings for coaches and captains, and are modifying the bystander trainings for sophomores (EphVenture leaders), JAs and seniors who live in off campus housing. Further work this coming year will include strengthening professional development for student affairs staff along some of the dimensions where concerns were indicated in the survey, as well as communicating more effectively to the campus about resources available to survivors.
Based on the EphCASA data, we are taking steps to increase the safety of campus dances and parties from the perspective of sexual assault prevention, including determining which locations, layouts, and placements of Campus Safety officers work best. This work is part of a multi-institutional prevention grant newly funded by the Department of Justice.
In 2015 the college also undertook a disciplinary process review, surveying and then interviewing complainants, respondents, support people, and witnesses about their experiences with the investigation and adjudication process that was put in place in 2013. The key areas for improvement identified involved communication and timing. We’ve developed new processes to address these, and expect that they will be helpful to all students involved.
Last year was the launch year for our work with the Circle of 6 prevention app, which allows students to access resources (Campus Safety and Security, information about support and reporting, or friends) very easily. We have been impressed by the positive response to this app, and by the numbers of students using it. While usage varies depending on when we are training students and publicizing, overall the app receives over 130 uses per day. You can learn more about it in the long-form interview that Meg Bossong did with Al Jazeera America, which aired on September 15th of this year. The link to the Williams press release is here.
Finally, we are continuing to work with colleagues nationally to stay abreast of best research-based practices for risk assessment and sanctioning.
Our work in sexual assault prevention and response moves forward through the collaborative efforts of a great many people, both on campus and in the alumni community. We are grateful for this tireless and crucial commitment of our community.
Megamenu Social