Letter to the Editor from the Interns in the Office of Sexual Violence Prevention and Advocacy

Conversations have been happening around campus surrounding sexual misconduct and the resources available to students. From on-campus events to word of mouth, there has been a distribution of misinformation, thus perpetuating a sense of worry about the current state of Title IX at Conn. As the interns for the Office of Sexual Violence Prevention and Advocacy, we have decided to present an explanation of the current practices for students who experience sexual misconduct at Connecticut College. We feel it is important to clarify that the Title IX Coordinator is mainly responsible for overseeing policy and coordination of the investigation process, whereas advocacy and support services are largely provided by the confidential advocates that we detail below.

First and foremost, Connecticut College offers several choices for students who have experienced sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and/or stalking.These options allow students to decide the level of support and reporting that they feel comfortable with. These are not mutually exclusive and students may pursue none, any or all options available. It is significant to note that Connecticut College has expanded our confidential resources available for students and now students have multiple options. The following offices help students with support and advocacy, regardless of whether the student wishes to pursue the Title IX complaint process or file a criminal charge.

Confidential advocates specifically trained to help anyone experiencing interpersonal violence are Heidi Freeland-Trail, CC Curtis, Truth Hunter, and Erin Duran. The college has additional on campus resources that remain confidential are The College Chaplains, Student Counseling Services and Student Health Services.

If a student decides to file a formal complaint, it may be filed in person, or in writing with John McKnight, acting Title IX Coordinator, or Campus Safety. Complaints are resolved through the Title IX Complaint Investigation Process. Dean McKnight may seek assistance when appropriate from one of the following deputy Title IX Coordinators: Eva Kovach and Cheryl Miller. Cases are attended to with care and dedication.

Currently, there is an active search for a Director of Equity and Compliance Programs who will oversee Title IX on our campus. This position will serve as an expert on civil rights and non-discrimination compliance, which includes, but is not limited to, Title IX. Responsibilities include: maintaining oversight for the College’s response to reports of interpersonal violence, integrating best practices when conducting and coordinating anti-discrimination investigation, and working with campus advocates to ensure referral of cases to appropriate grievance procedures. These processes are articulated in the student and employee handbooks as well as in information for faculty.

We hope that this article clarified the extensive resources (confidential or not) present on this campus. Although this campus has a progressive approach towards sexual misconduct, we recognize that there is still a long way to go. We acknowledge the current response from students, indicated by varying levels of interest and outrage, as an inspiring catalyst to this movement. Let us keep the conversations going, but let’s incorporate the factuality of our resources in order to grow as a community.

Teodora Mavrokordatos

McKenzie Griffith Potter

Emma Riggs

Interns with the office of Sexual Assault Prevention and Advocacy