STEPPING STONES TO SUCCESS:
THE DETERMINING FACTORS OF BEST PRACTICES AND POLICIES FOR SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION AT
SMALL LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES
Fátima A. AvellánSenior Comprehensive Presentation
Urban and Environmental Policy 2013
Saturday, May 11, 2013
RESEARCH QUESTION
What are the determining factors (or “pre-conditions”) that help lead small liberal arts college to achieve best practices and policies for sexual violence prevention?
If schools have larger endowments (or more funding), then does this mean they will have the best practices and policies for their college?
Saturday, May 11, 2013
METHODOLOGY
Case Studies: Carleton, Pomona, and Occidental
Review of Literature
Interviews
Students, faculty, and administrators
Advocates and activists at non-profit organizations
Participatory Observation
Saturday, May 11, 2013
HISTORICAL EFFORTS
1972: Title IX becomes law
1990: Jeanne Clery Act (“Clery Act”)
1994: Violence Against Women Act (“VAWA”)
2011: “Dear Colleague” Letter
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SIGNIFICANCE TODAY
According to the Department of Education:
In 2013, the Office of Civil Rights has received 38 complaints against IHE involving allegations related to sexual harassment
10 of these involve allegations specifically related to sexual violence
Saturday, May 11, 2013
CASE STUDIES:
CARLETON COLLEGE, POMONA COLLEGE, &
OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE
Saturday, May 11, 2013
CARLETON COLLEGE
Northfield population: approximately 17,147 people
Campus size: 955 acres
Undergraduate students: approx. 1900
On-campus living: required all 4 years
Tuition: $58,186 per year
Endowment: approx. $645.6 million
CAASHA*
Saturday, May 11, 2013
CARLETON COLLEGE
0%0%4%6%7%
8%
75%
Ethnicity Demographics
WhiteAsianHispanic/LatinoMulti-race (not hispanic/latino)Black/African-AmericanNative Hawaiian/Pacific IslanderAmerican Indian/Alaskan Native
49% 51%
Gender/Sex Demographics
Women Men
Saturday, May 11, 2013
POMONA COLLEGE
Claremont, CA population: approx. 35,143 people
Campus size: 140 acres
Undergraduate students: slightly over 1,600
On-campus living: required for all 1st years
Tuition: nearly $56,000 per year
Endowment: nearly $1.7 billion
“Advocates”
Saturday, May 11, 2013
POMONA COLLEGE
0%8%
14%
18%59%
Ethinicity Demographics
WhiteHispanicAsianBlack/African-AmericanAmerican Indian/Alaska Native
49% 51%
Gender/Sex Demographics
Women Men
Saturday, May 11, 2013
OCCIDENTAL COLLEGELos Angeles, CA population: approx. 3.8 million people
Campus size: approx. 120 acres
Undergraduate students: approx. over 2,100 students
On-campus living: required until 3rd year
Tuition: slightly over $60,000 per year
Endowment: slightly over $330 million
Project S.A.F.E.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE
1%5%5%
11%
17% 62%
Ethnicity Demographics
WhiteAsianHispanic/LatinoMulti-race (not Hispanic/Latino)Black/African-AmericanAmerican Indian/Alaskan Native
43%
57%
Gender/Sex Demographics
Women Men
Saturday, May 11, 2013
FINDINGS
Saturday, May 11, 2013
THE SIX DETERMINING FACTORS
1. Commitment and priority
2. Staffing and support
3. Knowledge and training
4. Student and faculty involvement
5. Students over lawsuits and public image
6. Funding and resources
Saturday, May 11, 2013
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE
Consistent dedication
Use expert and research-based evidence available
Sufficient and appropriate staffing
Fundraise for prevention and intervention resources
Put students first
Strive to receive student input
Set up a conflict resolution between students, faculty, and administrators
Saturday, May 11, 2013
THANK YOU
Professors Shamasunder and Gottlieb
Selena Chen, Chair of the Board of Directors, SAFER
Ariela Migdal, Attorney for the Women’s Rights Project, ACLU
Mary Mayhew, Program Director, SHARPP at University of New Hampshire
Julie Thornton, Dean at Carleton College
Kaaren Williamsen, Director of Gender and Sexuality Center at Carleton College
Meryl Seward and Natalie Daifotis, advocates at Advocates for Survivors of Sexual Assault at Pomona College
Shaina Campbell, Co-founder of Project S.A.F.E. at Occidental College
Core members of OSAC
All remaining interviewees
Saturday, May 11, 2013