‘Seeking Stillness’ combines art from different countries, cultures see ARTS&LIVING / PAGE 8
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Ovetime struggles doom Tufts in loss to Weleyan
CAFE discussion group analyzes what ‘ interfaith’means see FEATURES / PAGE 4
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THE
VOLUME LXXIV, ISSUE 12
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Monday, September 25, 2017
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OEO maintains current burden of proof for sexual misconduct cases following DeVos’s removal of Obama-era regulations The Dear Colleague letter recommended a general 60-day time limit for investigations into sexual misconduct cases. DeVos’ new regulations, on the other hand, do not call for a specific time frame for a prompt investigation. Zellmer noted that the university has chosen to move to a period of 60–90 days for investigations in order to maintain respect for the student calendar and ensure proper thoroughness in the process.
“I never really felt comfortable with the 60-day time frame anyway,” she said. “If a case comes in at the middle of the semester, which is more likely than at the beginning, we have to make sure that we’re not talking to students during finals and midterms … [and] that 60 days is almost impossible.” Zellmer added that OEO will still aim to complete investigations before the 90-day mark, but that expanding this regulation will see OEO, page 2
ResLife makes structural changes to improve on-campus housing Staffing changes include departure of Yolanda King, addition of new hires by Elie Levine News Editor
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Betsy DeVos, U.S. Secretary of Education, is pictured above. by Arin Kerstein News Editor
Content warning: This article discusses policy surrounding sexual misconduct. The Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) will continue to use the preponderance of the evidence standard for sexual misconduct cases in accordance with its current adjudication process, following the Department of Education’s rescinding of Obama-era regulations in a Q&A on Campus Sexual Misconduct document released on Friday from the department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), according to Jill Zellmer, executive director of OEO and Title IX coordinator. The document was released in the interim of a notice-and-comment process to reform sexual misconduct policy first announced by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos in a speech at George Mason University earlier this month. A 2011 “Dear Colleague” letter issued during President Barack Obama’s administration lowered the burden of proof in such cases to a preponderance of the evidence standard, requiring a simple majority of the evidence to implicate a student accused of sexual misconduct. The new OCR document allows universities to elect to increase the burden of proof necessary to find someone
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guilty of sexual misconduct to clear and convincing, meaning more evidence would be necessary to implicate the perpetrator. Zellmer explained that, while the outlined procedure is temporary until the department solidifies regulations after the notice-andcomment process finishes, Tufts is not currently changing this policy. “We’re going to continue to use the preponderance of the evidence standard, which is the standard that we use for all conduct issues across the university so that’s what we’re keeping, and we’re not anticipating that we’re going to have to change it,” she said. The current adjudication process — which has been in place since 2011 — utilizes a panel of adjudicators composed of staff and faculty from all around the university, according to OEO’s Sexual Misconduct Adjudication Process Overview. OEO works to pick adjudicators from campuses other than the one where the case is reported to help avoid conflict of interest, Zellmer said. Zellmer said this process seems to be most appropriate way to adjudicate with a preponderance of evidence standard of proof. “If there’s a panel, it seems like people are comfortable with the preponderance of the evidence standard because more than one person is making the decision,” she said.
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This academic year has ushered in a host of changes within the Office of Residential Life and Learning (ResLife). According to Christopher Rossi, the associate dean of student affairs, ResLife has put a number of reforms in place that provide co-curricular resources and support for students. Former ResLife Director Yolanda King has left Tufts, and a number of new staff arrived over the summer, adding to staffing changes over the past several months. In addition, the office’s organization has changed, with new structures for residence directors, resident assistants and upper-level managers. Rossi said all these changes are aimed at improving the Tufts experience. “We believe here at Tufts … that learning extends beyond the classroom,” Rossi said. “Things that happen in the classroom are just a part of your experience and growth here at Tufts.” New Dorm Organization Rossi said that ResLife has transitioned from the area residence director model, with dormitories grouped into four areas guided by professional residence directors, to a model with seven designated areas, each led by a graduate residence director (GRD). Ben Grace, the GRD for Metcalf, Richardson, Stratton, Sophia Gordon and Hodgdon Halls, explained that he serves as the point person between professional and student staff.
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Yolanda King, former director of residential life and learning, is pictured on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2002. “The best way to describe the GRD role is that I serve as a liaison between the ResLife professional staff and my [First Year Advisors] FYAs and Community Development Advisors (CDAs),” Grace told the Daily in an email. “Since I live on campus and interact with my FYAs and CDAs more frequently than professional staff, I am better able to convey departmental updates and information in our team meetings or one-on-one interactions.” Grishma Rimal, the GRD for Carpenter House, Carmichael Hall, Wilson House and West Hall, agreed that communication is an important part of her role.
NEWS............................................1 FEATURES.................................4 COMICS.......................................5 PHOTO SPREAD.....................6
see RESLIFE, page 3
ARTS&LIVING.........................8 OPINION...................................10 SPORTS............................ BACK