Online conversation about sexual misconduct policy set for March 31

The Advisory Council on Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct invites alumni and parents to participate in an online conversation about the College's sexual and gender-based misconduct policy Tuesday, March 31. The webinar will run from noon to 1 p.m. EDT. You may preregister here.

The Council reviews and updates the policy annually with input from the Skidmore community. An open forum with students, faculty and staff – the fourth in a series of such meetings conducted this year – is scheduled for March 24.

"Sexual misconduct is a serious issue on all campuses, and it's imperative in framing our own approaches that we adopt and enforce a policy that is most in keeping with the Skidmore community's values," said Mariel Martin, advisory council chair. Any changes that might be implemented by the council as a result of this input will have no bearing on current cases, Martin noted, "but they'll make our processes more responsive and effective."

While welcoming input from the community on any aspect of the policy, council members plan to focus particularly on a provision that currently allows students who are suspended for violating the policy to reapply for readmission when the term of the suspension has ended. In recent weeks, many in the community have voiced strong opposition to this provision, arguing that the College should instead adopt a policy of automatic expulsion.

The March 31 webinar will be the second the College has conducted with alumni and parents. The first was with the President's Advisory Council in December.

Below is a list of all members of the Advisory Council on Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct. Those whose names are marked with an asterisk are expected to participate in the upcoming community conversation.

• *Mariel Martin, Title IX Deputy Coordinator, chair
• *W. Rochelle Calhoun, Title IX Coordinator
• David Karp, Associate Dean of Student Affairs/Director of Student Conduct
• *Erin Dagle, Assistant Director of Student Conduct and SGBM Investigator
• Patricia Rubio, Associate Dean of the Faculty for Faculty Development, Personnel, and Diversity
• *Julia Routbort, Director of the Counseling Center
• Patty Bosen, Director of Health Services
• Jen McDonald, Director of Health Promotion/Victim Advocate
• *Michelle Murray, Assistant Director of Health Promotion/Victim Advocate
• *Dennis Conway, Director of Campus Safety
• *Herb Crossman, Assistant Director for Equal Employment Opportunity and Workforce Diversity
• *Katie Wright, Sexual Misconduct Advisor for Responding Students
• Ray Skyer '17, Center for Sex and Gender Relations Head Peer Advocate
• Soraya Attia '15, SGA willingness-to-serve position