NIC SOFTBALL HITS IT OUT OF THE PARK
FEATURES “The Beatles” cartoonist come’s to Coeur d’Alene.| Page 3 PERSPECTIVES Real life relatable college experiences. | Page 4 SPORTS NIC student bulks up for a competition. | Page 6
Lady Cardinals sweep the competition earning second place Page 6
theSentinel THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF NORTH IDAHO COLLEGE
MONDAY, MAY 1, 2017
W W W. N IC S EN TIN EL . C O M
Volume 70 | Issue 10
Stopping campus sexual assault What to do when it happens and how to prevent it Michelle Mills Managing Editor
A
pril is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, so here are some things to be aware of according to statistics shared by the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network: • Every 98 seconds an American is sexually assaulted • Male college-aged students (18-24) are 78% more likely than nonstudents of the same age to be a victim of rape or sexual assault. • Female college-aged students (18-24) are 20% less likely than nonstudents of the same age to be a victim of rape or sexual assault. • Only 20% of female student victims, age 1824, report to law enforcement. The good news is North Idaho College already knows and has taken several courses of action to prevent and treat sexual assault on campus. NIC has joined with other colleges to head down the path toward a sexual assault-free campus by 1) establishing a Title IX officer, 2) implementing Green Dot, a bystander intervention program and 3) collaborating with Safe Passage, a confidential counseling service for sexual assault survivors. Amanda Krier, the Sexual Assault Program Coordinator at Safe Passage, said that she thinks part of the reason sexual assault on campus is so prevalent is because for many students, it is their first time away from home and they are learning to do things on their own and trying new experiences. “We have first-time drinking, first-time sexual experiences or they want to see what’s out there,” she said. “I think when we combine all that, there’s a higher prevalence of sexual violence on campuses.” Between the prevalence and students’ hesitancy to report sexual violence, with about two out of three assaults going unreported, college’s are now required to have an extra safeguard established: Title IX. NIC’s Title IX Coordinator is currently Alex Harris. Title IX holds federally funded schools responsible for respond-
ing to and remedying any hostile learning environment. If they do not properly comply, the school would be in danger of losing it’s federal funding. Title IX is part of the Educational Amendments of 1972, which states the following: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” Harris said that because of Title IX, the college has the responsibility to investigate any incidences, whether they are reported to law enforcement or not. “If they are reported, we still do our own investigation; if they aren’t, then we do,” he said. “Of course, we encourage every victim to report to law enforcement, but ultimately it’s whether they want to or not.” To be in full compliance with Title IX, the college must have a designated Title IX officer, all faculty must be mandated reporters who are obligated to report to the Title IX officer if they are told about any instance of discrimination or violence, and an investigation must take place. “I do what we call a smalleye investigation, where we look into the situation, initially, and see if there’s a possible violation of our [Title IX] policy,” Harris said. “And if it doesn’t rise to that level, then we try to fix the situation for the people involved. Or I go into a full investigation.” A full investigation includes a report and findings if someone is found in violation of the policy, which could be anything from sexual harass- Statistic from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. Infographic by Kaylee Dinkel/Sentinel ment, sexual discrimination, offer their services 24/7 to the lence on campus. NIC also works “It requires us to do things, sexual assault or rape. Then the dorms or hospital if necessary. closely with Safe Passage, a viobut what it really does is it recollege has to impose sanctions, Krier said that they also collabolence prevention center. quires us to do what’s right,” he set up remedies to prevent it from said. “Title IX is a good thing. It’s rate with the Title IX coordinator Safe Passage works at providhappening again, which could and school resource officer so ing multiple resources especially good guidance. Sometimes it’s include no contact orders, expulthat they may offer Safe Passage’s for the dorms since not all survicumbersome with the rules and sion or termination. services in any event of sexual vors choose to report to police. different ways that we have to do What Harris said he wants violence that they respond to. By providing resources, Safe Pasthings, but ultimately, it’s a road students to know about Title IX is Whether students choose to sage allows for survivors to find a map for reducing sexual violence that though it is required by law, report or not, Safe Passage makes way to reach out for help. on campuses.” that is not the only reason the colsure that they get the help they They also train the residential Title IX is not the only road on lege has it in place. assistants and dorm manager and the map for reducing sexual vio-
See ASSAULT | Page 5
NIC says goodbye NIC Instructor retires after 31 year long career News Page 2
QUOTABLE
Infographics by Kaylee Dinkel/Sentinel
“The thing we did here was enlist the presence of community. We put an interest in the artists all around the community.”
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WHERE TO START News...........................2
Sports.......................6
Features...................3
Games.....................7
Perspectives..............4
Chamber Orchestra...8
class days left
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