Members appointed to new advisory committee on sexual misconduct

By Office of Communications on Oct. 30, 2014, 9:46 a.m.

Princeton University faculty, staff and students have been appointed to the new Faculty-Student Committee on Sexual Misconduct and the group expects to hold its first meeting sometime in November. The committee serves as an advisory group regarding Princeton's work to prevent sexual misconduct, assure effective implementation of sexual misconduct policies and support students in compliance with the University's obligations under federal Title IX requirements.

The committee is co-chaired by Professor of English Deborah Nord and Vice Provost for Institutional Equity and Diversity Michele Minter. The committee also includes the following members:

  • Carl Adair, graduate student in English
  • Rebecca Basaldua, Class of 2015
  • Kathleen Deignan, dean of undergraduate students
  • Jackie Deitch-Stackhouse, director of the Sexual Harassment/Assault, Advising, Resources and Education (SHARE) Office
  • Brandon Holt, Class of 2015
  • Robert Kaster, professor of classics and the Kennedy Foundation Professor of Latin Language and Literature
  • Elizabeth Levy Paluck, associate professor of psychology and public affairs and the John Maclean Jr. Presidential University Preceptor
  • Alyson Neel, graduate student in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
  • Robert Wuthnow, professor of sociology and the Gerhard R. Andlinger '52 Professor of Social Sciences

The formation of the committee was announced earlier this fall as part of the University's adoption of changes to its sexual misconduct policies and procedures. The group will serve in an advisory role to the University president and provost.

"Like many universities and colleges across the country, Princeton has adopted new policies for adjudicating sexual misconduct," Nord said. "Though we have long had clear, consistent and effective procedures for handling these cases, we now have an opportunity to improve them in certain important respects and to engage the whole campus in trying to prevent sexual assault in the first place."

The committee will help identify and recommend strategies to ensure that students understand their rights under Title IX and the University's related sexual misconduct policy and procedures, and understand how to report possible violations of Title IX and University policies. Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities, and applies in sexual misconduct cases that include sexual harassment, sexual violence, stalking and intimate partner violence.

The group also will recommend strategies for improving the effectiveness of the University's procedures, support services and resources available to students; offer input regarding programming focused on the prevention of sexual misconduct, including outreach and educational activities; and provide consultative support for annual climate surveys.

The group expects to meet regularly during each academic year.

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