MSU is taking more steps to ensure abuse does not go unnoticed at the university, as in the case of Penn State University.
MSU’s Office of the General Counsel currently is working on documentation clarifying professors’ obligations should they become aware of an individual involved with sexual abuse or child abuse.
“Our work has been ongoing before the Penn State issue arose, (but) I think the Penn State matter reinforces the need for everyone to understand what their reporting (obligations are),” Deputy General Counsel Kristine Zayko said.
Zayko said the document explains Title IX requires faculty and staff to report child abuse, even if it was years prior, or sexual assault to MSU police. She said in the case of a professor being informed of a sexual assault by an individual outside the university, the professor is not required to report this to MSU police.
“It’s us providing guidelines to help faculty and staff better understand their responsibilities … if they should become aware of these types of incidents,” said Doug Estry, associate provost for undergraduate education and dean of undergraduate studies.
Estry said although he has not heard of any faculty and staff needing to report issues of child abuse or sexual assault, MSU has state and federal obligations to students and the community to report these incidents to protect other individuals from harm.
“This can put both faculty/staff and students in a challenging situation as the need for personal privacy is balanced with the need for community safety,” said Lauren Allswede, therapist with the MSU Counseling Center’s Sexual Assault Program, in an email.
Allswede said it is important for victims of crimes, such as sexual assault, to report the abuse when they are ready and safe.
The document will be reviewed by the MSU policymaking body, Academic Governance, as well as other on-campus groups, before it hopefully is put online by next semester, Zayko said.
ASMSU Vice President for Academic Affairs Emily Bank, who sits on committees within Academic Governance for the undergraduate student government, said ASMSU will play an important part in undergraduate students understanding how abuse is reported.
On Aug. 16, President Lou Anna K. Simon sent an email reminding faculty and staff of their obligations in cases of sexual assault.
At a September Steering Committee meeting, Simon said athletic security procedures had been changed, and janitorial staff and athletes were told to report suspicious activity, to avoid a similar incident.
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