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cmu-nicole-ickes [2012/06/06 08:55]
joshuawise [Carnegie Mellon Dropped the Ball] |
cmu-nicole-ickes [2015/07/17 15:06]
joshuawise |
| **Hi there.** | **Hi there.** |
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| I know this is going to start to sound like a lot of the negativity that you've come to associate with social justice blog posts, but **bear with me for a moment**. You've been sent this because you can (probably) do something about what you're about to hear. What you are about to read might upset you, but I promise I'll only try to upset you once, and I also promise I won't try to guilt trip you about who you are. So stick with me? I'll try to make it worth your time. | I know this is going to be an unpleasant read, but **bear with me for a moment**. You've been sent this because you can (probably) do something about what you're about to hear. What you are about to read might upset you, but I promise I'll only try to upset you once, and I also promise I won't try to guilt trip you about who you are. So stick with me? I'll try to make it worth your time. |
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| Thanks. \\ | Thanks. \\ |
| On June 6th, I spoke by phone with Gina Casalegno. She informed me that there is now a Title IX coordinator (Amy Burkert) at Carnegie Mellon, as a result of the [[http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201104.html|2011 "Dear Colleague" letter]]. In the event that complaints come forward about the school's handling of any given case come forward, Amy is responsible for handling them. My read is that the process is somewhat transparent, and somewhat opaque; occasionally there will be interactions with the student, as needed to gather more detail, but primarily the investigation is handled internally. Hearteningly, in at least one case, Amy has discovered that the University had not handled a case appropriately, and initiated an internal investigation, even without a direct external complaint. In any event, Amy is involved in all formal complaints; it would be safe to assume that she is involved in this as well. During that conversation, I was assured that Jared Cohen is also tracking the progress of this as well, and that he was briefed before my conversation with Gina. | On June 6th, I spoke by phone with Gina Casalegno. She informed me that there is now a Title IX coordinator (Amy Burkert) at Carnegie Mellon, as a result of the [[http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201104.html|2011 "Dear Colleague" letter]]. In the event that complaints come forward about the school's handling of any given case come forward, Amy is responsible for handling them. My read is that the process is somewhat transparent, and somewhat opaque; occasionally there will be interactions with the student, as needed to gather more detail, but primarily the investigation is handled internally. Hearteningly, in at least one case, Amy has discovered that the University had not handled a case appropriately, and initiated an internal investigation, even without a direct external complaint. In any event, Amy is involved in all formal complaints; it would be safe to assume that she is involved in this as well. During that conversation, I was assured that Jared Cohen is also tracking the progress of this as well, and that he was briefed before my conversation with Gina. |
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| I requested a short written statement from Gina; she has told me that she'll have one for me in the next day or so. Obviously, she cannot discuss much detail of this specific case, since even though Nicole has published directly, the University still has confidentiality requirements that they must uphold. I'm not sure if Nicole can waive those at her option; even if she can, I suspect that the University would not like to be in a position of having to publicly contradict Nicole, even on small matters. | I requested a short written statement from Gina; she provided me with one on June 7th, as promised. Obviously, she cannot discuss much detail of this specific case, since even though Nicole has published directly, the University still has confidentiality requirements that they must uphold. I'm not sure if Nicole can waive those at her option; even if she can, I suspect that the University would not like to be in a position of having to publicly contradict Nicole, even on small matters. |
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| I will provide updates here as I receive them. | The following is an excerpt from Gina's response to me. |
| | > Following the issuance in April, 2011, of the "Dear Colleague Letter" (DCL) by the Office of Civil Rights, Carnegie Mellon reviewed our existing policies relating to sexual assault and sexual harassment to confirm that they are consistent with the spirit and intent of the DCL. We made a few procedural changes as a result, and in the coming year will consider additional changes as part of a broader, previously scheduled, review of all University policies. |
| | > |
| | > Last summer we formally named and publicized a newly-appointed Title IX coordinator who is responsible for overseeing all Title IX complaints and identifying and addressing any patterns or systemic problems that arise during the review of such complaints. Our Title IX coordinator is Dr. Amy Burkert, Vice Provost for Education. |
| | > |
| | > Were we to receive a complaint or report from a member of our community, whether relating to Title IX or other matter, our standard response is to reach out immediately to the affected individual, first to support them, and then to better understand the situation so that it may be remedied. The handling of all Title IX matters by those charged to do so under applicable University policies is reviewed by the Title IX Coordinator to assure that our process was sound, that it met our standard of care and concern for our community members, and to be sure that there were no systemic issues evidenced by the cases under review. |
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| | Her response is in line with the discussion that I had on the phone with her. She seemed genuine in her response; it seems like the University is at least on a pathway to make some improvements. In the coming weeks and months, I suspect that a more thorough review will determine really what went wrong here; I look forward to engaging with the University to get closer to resolution on this. |
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| | I will continue to provide updates here (from either Carnegie Mellon or from Nicole) as I receive them. |
| ===== Thank you! ===== | ===== Thank you! ===== |
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