The GUSA Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on Tuesday calling for drastic reform to Georgetown’s disciplinary disclosure policy and sexual assault categorization. The resolution was proposed by Luis Torres (CAS ‘05) and Advocates for Improved Response Methods to Sexual Assault (AFIRMS).
Earlier in the week Deborah Shick, mother of David Shick (MSB ‘01), a student who was killed in a fight behind Lauinger Library in February 2000, submitted a response to GUSA supporting the resolution. “Now it is up to the students of Georgetown to insist on a progressive approach to violence on campus,” Shick wrote.
The controversy surrounding the University’s handling of the cases of Shick and Kate Dieringer (CAS ‘04), a Georgetown student who was raped by a fellow student, brought about the resolution. In both cases, the victims could not learn the results of the adjudication hearings.
The University’s current disciplinary discretion policy keeps the results of all hearings secret from the accuser unless he or she signs a mandatory confidentiality agreement. This agreement prohibits the accuser from discussing anything related to the case to any person not present at the hearings. The agreement is initiated by Georgetown and is not required by federal law.
The GUSA resolution eliminates this mandatory agreement altogether, granting victims the right to name their assailant if the accused is found responsible for the offense, explained Torres.
He added that if the defendants were found not responsible, he or she would have the option of reverting to the confidentiality agreement to prevent release of his or her name.
The resolution calls for further reform in several other areas of the University’s policy, including increased sensitivity training for members of the faculty and staff of the university.
Other amendments include an additional full disclosure clause for defendants found responsible in their adjudication hearing. Such a clause would place responsibility on the University to make the results of such hearings known to the student body.
Representatives from AFIRMS who attended the meeting were encouraged by the unanimous passing of the resolution.
“The current policy puts the entire university community at risk,” said Lili Mathis (CAS ‘04). ” This is an important step to take to promote the safety of everyone.”
Amy Hsueh (CAS ‘03), an AFIRMS member, reiterated the importance of this reform for the Georgetown community.
“It is important to make these changes to renew confidence in the University’s response mechanisms to sexual assault, which have been largely discredited due to the publicity attributed to their light sanctions for the Shick and Dieringer cases,” Hsueh said.
