© 2024 KLCC

KLCC
136 W 8th Ave
Eugene OR 97401
541-463-6000
klcc@klcc.org

Contact Us

FCC Applications
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

UO Adopts New "Student-Directed" Reporting Policy For Sexual Assault

KLCC

Next fall, the University of Oregon will enact a new reporting policy in cases of sexual assault and gender-based discrimination. The policy puts victims in charge.

The U of O in the past had a policy that required almost all employees who are informed of a sexual assault to report it to the University’s Title IX coordinator or some other official. Mandatory reporting, according to UO Psychology Professor Jennifer Freyd, can have a chilling effect for assault victims.
Freyd says sexual violence takes control away from people, so institutions around them shouldn’t add insult to injury.
Freyd: “Not take control away but be very respectful and let people dictate, as much as we can. Let them dictate the timing and how things go forward so they regain control and it’s their story and they get to see it play out in a way that’s best for them.”
U of O president Michael Schill signed the new policy this week. It goes into effect in September 2017.

Rachael McDonald is KLCC’s host for All Things Considered on weekday afternoons. She also is the editor of the KLCC Extra, the daily digital newspaper. Rachael has a BA in English from the University of Oregon. She started out in public radio as a newsroom volunteer at KLCC in 2000.
Related Content