LIFE CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Behind the bench Judge shares experiences after first year
wednesday, april 29, 2015 | MOUNT PLEASANT, MICH. | ISSUE NO. 84 VOL. 96
Life in brief crime Final suspect arrested in armed robberies A third suspect was arrested Wednesday in Harper Woods in connection with three robberies in Isabella County according to the Michigan State Police Second District Fugitive Investigative Strike Team. Devon Webb, a 24-year-old Detroit native, was arraigned Tuesday on three counts of armed robbery, three counts of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, three counts of assault with a dangerous Devon Webb weapon, three counts of first degree home invasion and three counts of felony firearm. Bond is set at $750,000. On April 5, Michigan State Police Officers began investigating at least three separate armed robberies that occurred between February and April of 2015. The victims were all CMU students and the robberies occurred during illegal drug transactions within the apartments. Investigators identified Detroit sophomore William Jones, 19, as one of the individuals involved with the robberies. Jones was arrested April 9 at his room in Sweeney Hall. Jones cooperated with investigators and identified Dewon Webb, 23, from Detroit as one of his co-conspirators. Jones also identified a third person, whose name is being withheld pending the issuance of arrest warrants. Webb was arrested when Michigan State Police Emergency Support Team conducted simultaneous search warrants at Copper Beech Apartment Unit K2 and The Grove Apartments 4 p.m. April 10. - Malachi Barrett, Editor-in-Chief
administration Board of Trustees to establish tuition rates Thursday The Central Michigan University Board of Trustees will set tuition for the 201516 academic year at their last meeting of the semester Thursday. The board will consider motions to establish undergraduate, graduate, master’s/specialist, doctoral and College of Medicine tuition. Room and board and apartment rates will also be established for 2015-16. The board will meet 8:30 a.m. Thursday in the Bovee University Center President’s Conference Room. Also on the agenda is a motion directing university leadership to prepare specific recommendations regarding online academic programs. Trustees will consider a motion adopting a revision of the policy that authorizes the establishment of bank and investment accounts, as well as a motion authorizing changes to the Development Board Bylaws. Executive Director of Institutional Research Robert Roe will give his report on peer institutions. Research and Sponsored Programs will give its quarterly report as well. - Malachi Barrett, Editor-in-Chief
LIFE INSIDE
Residence Hall Assembly looking to improve next year »PAGE 3A EDITORIAL: Funding for local rape kits is a necessity »PAGE 4A Removal of ashtrays means more cigarette butt littering »PAGE 6A
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Unwelcome presence Under INVESTIGATION
Photo Illustration by Daytona Niles | Photo Editor Students who report sexual misconduct may have to attend class on campus where they have the possibility of running into the alleged perpetrator during an investigation.
Students under investigation for sexual misconduct may still be allowed to attend class By Sydney Smith Managing Editor
When she walks into the library to study, she has a friend check the entire floor to make sure her rapist isn’t studying there too. Rachel’s complainant was filed with the Office of Student Conduct in January after being sexually assaulted off campus. Her rapist was found in violation of Central Michigan University’s Code of Conduct. During a long investigation process, he is allowed to attend classes.
“I have paranoia in the back of my head that I might run into him on campus,” she said. “It’s a lot of anxiety. If he gets kicked out, I will feel safe again.” Rachel is not the complainant’s real name. Central Michigan Life does not name victims of sexual assault and other crimes. Her investigation was verified through university documents. Since Rachel filed in January, her case is being handled by the Office of Student Conduct, going through a system used until the new sexual misconduct policy was introduced March 16. After that date, all reports of
Group works to restore SANE services in hospital By Sydney Smith Managing Editor
Depending on who administers it, a small box containing a series of envelopes containing evidence could be the difference between a sexual assault complainant seeing a rapist arrested or watching an attacker walk free. In 2011, Women’s Aid in Mount Pleasant lost a federal grant for a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program at McLaren Central Michigan that funded the SANE program. As of 2013, if a patient tells the hospital they have been sexually assaulted, they are able to get a rape kit done, but it is questionable whether the kit will stand up in court. “There are certain ways it needs to be done,” said Roger Skrabut,
director of the Heart & Vascular Center at McLaren. “Right now we don’t have anybody in the emergency department that has completed certification for this.” Skrabut is part of a team of community members working to restore the SANE program at McLaren. Along with him, the Central Michigan University Police Department, representatives from Foust Hall and members of the Sexual Assault Response Team through the Saginaw-Chippewa Tribe have been meeting to figure out funding and solve logistical matters to restore the service. The committee’s goal is to restore the SANE program by this fall. “It is important to be a SANE versus a RN because there’s conversations that can occur while this
sexual misconduct will be investigated through the Office of Civil Rights and Institutional Equity. Though Rachel is undergoing the investigation through the former process, they both take a certain amount of time. With the new system, the office has up to 60 days to complete their investigation. After that time, the complainant or respondent can appeal the decision.
The new investigation process
When the Office of Civil Rights and Institutional Equity receives a report, director Katherine Lasher’s first step is to reach out to the complainant and tells them about helpful resources. She tells them about Sexual Aggression
Peer Advocates, the Counseling Center, Student Disabilies Services and other resources outside of CMU. Also in that first contact, Lasher will ask the survivor to meet with her, letting them know they may bring a support person. During the first meeting with Lasher, a survivor will become further informed with resources, with a focus on which are confidential and which are not. Lasher also details interim measures that can be put in place to keep the survivor comfortable while attending CMU. This can include looking at both students’ schedules and making sure they do not cross paths while on campus. “Our goal is to have the survivor only
w Still | 2A
B Y T H E N U M B E RS
8
According to the Clery report, there were eight reported sexual assaults on university grounds in 2013. In 2012, there were six. There were five in 2011.
6 300
According to Office of Student Conduct data, there were six sexual misconduct violations in the 2013-14 academic year.
process is going on and we want to make sure the nurse is compassionate, caring, answering the questions, helping the victim,” Skrabut said. “(We want to make sure) they’re not just moving down this recipe, checking off these things to get out of the room as quickly as possible.” Brooke Huber, leader of SART, said the committee is working to secure funding that would restore the service for a sustainable period, rather than through a grant which
Sexual Aggression Peer Advocates is the busiest it has ever been. They receive between 200 and 300 calls per year.
will expire. Huber said having these specially-trained nurses will increase reporting among victims. “If you are reporting to law enforcement, (police) want that forensic evidence,” she said. “It’ll still get turned over to police. The problem with not having appropriately trained people is that can be challenged in court.” Huber estimates the cost of SANE is about $20,000 per year. w SANE | 2A
University responds to concerns of misconduct policy By Paige Sheffield Staff Reporter
A new sexual misconduct policy that went into effect in March, is causing some students to worry that implemented changes could deter survivors from coming forward. Aside from confidential resources and other exceptions outlined in the policy, Central Michigan University staff and faculty are required to report information about sexual misconduct to Title IX Coordinator Katherine Lasher. Resident assistants and multicultural advisers are considered responsible employees, meaning students in these positions would also have to report
sexual misconduct. Critics of the policy worry this may deter some to report an incident, as anything mentioned to a staff member might be investigated. Katherine Lasher Lasher said the complainant and respondent will both be more informed throughout the process, receiving information about where the process is and what interim measures have been taken. Lasher said faculty and staff have always been considered mandatory reporters by the university, as mandated by the federal guidelines.
Though this aspect of the policy isn’t new, there have been several changes with respect to reporting in recent years because of Title IX. “As I understand, the point of Title IX is to encourage people to feel safe enough to come forward and understand that their concerns will be taken seriously and that if any help can be provided, it will,” Lasher said. Title IX could prevent survivors from coming forward, despite the opportunity to investigate cases that might not have been reported otherwise. “I think for some, it may prevent them from coming forward. I hope that’s not the case, because it really is intended to protect both the complain-
ant as well as the (respondent),” said Michelle Veith, associate director of Residence Life. She said it might also encourage some people to come forward because the policy shows the university cares and resources are available for justice. Flint freshman Carissa Martin said mandatory reporting has positive and negative effects. “It’s good in the way that it will cause some more reporting and if someone does want help but they don’t know where to go, that will take care of that,” Martin said. “However, it also discourages reporting because some people may not want to report.” w policy | 2A