The current debate surrounding the alleged sexual misconduct of David Holtzman, assistant profesor of Neuroscience, has raised issues about the sexual offense policy itself, and the level of awareness of it on campus.
A copy of the policy is located in the back of Fussers, the student directory, and the Student Handbook. It was adopted by members of the Oberlin College General Faculty in 1993 .
Alexandra Galovich, double-degree sixth year, who joined the Sexual Offense Review Committee (SORC) last January says, "We are trying to make sure people know enough about the policy to use it, and we are always trying to make sure people know more."
However, Alex Levine, a sophomore, feels that the policy cannot help people unless they are directly affected. "Nobody really knows about that stuff until it happens to them. The policy itself is after the fact."
Some students have said that while they don't know the policy in any great detail, they feel that they know what sexual misconduct is, and that they would know how to act if they encountered a case of misconduct.
One student said, "I know that I would contact the Sexual Assault Support Team because I see their name everywhere. I think people have a basic idea of what to do if they are involved in sexual misconduct."
Sophomore Amiee Ely agrees. "I'm sure a lot of people are aware there is a policy somewhere," she said.
SORC co-chair Camille Mitchell said a great deal has been, and is being done, to educate both students and staff regarding sexual issues within Oberlin College. She cites several student programs, among them the College Handbook, Fussers and Dorm Raps, as key to making the information accesible to students.
Jan Cooper, a former member of SORC, said that while many of the programs suggested by the SORC were implemented the committee was "still concerned with how much programming was for students."
According to Mitchell, faculty who are new to the College, or who are taking a student advisor position are also oriented to the Sexual Offense Policy and trained to deal with situations involving sexual misconduct. As for the faculty at large, Mitchell says, "The faculty are aware of [the policy] because most of them were involved in passing it."
However, Assistant Professor of Politics and co-chair of the SORC Chris Howell said, "The policy is not as well understood as we would like." He feels that the main problem with the policy involves how well it is known within the college community. He says that although many methods are employed to familiarize students with the policy, "We sit around meeting after meeting trying to figure out ways to make the policy more visible."
Associate Professor of History Michael Fisher, who is on the General Faculty Council now reviewing Holtzman's case, also feels that the policy could be better understood by the college community. At the same time he added that he has "the faith that the College has in place procedures that should work if everybody follows them."
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