T he University must stop delaying the release of the draft report from the Sexual Assault Task Force.
Members of the task force seem to be no longer concerned about its official release because University administrators have already begun implementing many of the policies laid out during the force’s meetings.
This is not acceptable. If the University is operating under a new policy, students have the right to know exactly what that policy says.
Chancellor Carol Folt received the report the week before classes started. While we understand there might be a need to fine-tune the draft and establish a way to implement its guidelines, South Building has had enough time. If the task force did the work it promised, then the rollout should have already been planned and smoothed out.
Throughout the time the task force met, the group discussed potential sanctions and implementing panels to adjudicate sexual assault cases on campus.
While students know these changes might be coming in some form, they’ve largely been left in the dark about how these proposals will be implemented.
Students and faculty never had the chance to weigh in on the proposed changes after the task force stopped meeting.
One of the most serious problems with how the university previously handled cases of sexual assault was a lack of transparency about the details of its process. That mistake should not be made again.
Administrators should release the draft and give people the opportunity to comment on the proposals before implementing it as official University policy.
