Feb. 24, 25: Title IX Office for Civil Rights site visit

OCR-logo-150PULLMAN, Wash. – Federal civil rights representatives will conduct focus groups concerning sexual harassment at Washington State University and meet with individuals who request to on Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 24 and 25.

This is part of a review of university compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendment Acts of 1972, which is the federal law that prohibits sexual harassment. Sexual violence, including rape, is sexual harassment.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) representatives will be at the University of Idaho’s Moscow campus conducting the same type of review during the week.

OCR representatives will conduct focus group sessions to discuss campus sexual violence with certain groups of students.

OCR invites students to attend the following focus groups as applicable:

DATE and TIME LOCATION STUDENTS
Monday 2/24 @ 1pm CUB 310 Female graduate students,   including international students and teaching assistants
Monday 2/24 @ 2:15pm CUB 310 Male graduate students,   including international students and teaching assistants
Monday 2/24 @ 4pm CUB 310 Members of sexual   assault/sexual harassment advocacy community and survivor groups
Monday 2/24 @ 5pm Reunion Room Female undergraduates   including sorority members and international students
Monday 2/24 @ 7pm Reunion Room Male student athletes
Tuesday 2/25 @ noon CUB 204 LGBTQ undergraduates and   graduate students
Tuesday 2/25 @ 5pm CUB 206 Male undergraduates including   fraternity members and international students
Tuesday 2/25 @ 7pm CUB 204 Female student athletes

OCR representatives will be available for office hours and are interested in speaking with anyone who would like to talk about campus sexual violence, including survivors of sexual violence or sexual harassment. Please feel free to come to office hours or contact representatives individually (see contact information below).

OCR keeps records of its contacts; those records are public and subject to public disclosure laws, but any identifying information is redacted or removed before release to the public.

Those seeking a more private place to speak with OCR staff may contact them prior to the visit (see contact information below).

Office hours will be 2:15-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, in CUB 206.

During the visit, OCR staff will be located in CUB 310 and/or L37 on Monday, Feb. 24, and in CUB 204 and/or 206 on Tuesday, Feb. 25.

The following OCR staff also are available on an ongoing basis before and after the onsite visit during their normal working hours. Please feel free to call or email them:

Amy Klosterman, attorney, 206-607-1622, amy.klosterman@ed.gov

Mark Farr, special projects coordinator, 206-607-1607, mark.farr@ed.gov