Elizabethtown College’s Residence Life office has made the decision to host mandatory meetings for all students who live in the dormitories about Title IX policy, although all students undergo mandatory Title IX training when they enter Etown’s campus.
The decision to hold mandatory meetings comes after multiple events of bias incidents have been reported this semester. Area coordinators say the meetings will be going over “how to support friends,” while discussing specifically what the Title IX and bias policy includes. Guidelines from the student handbook will be reviewed, along with steps to take if you come across harm.
Resident assistants (RAs) were initially planning on holding these meetings on Nov. 5 and Nov.6, but due to the election and short notice, they were pushed back to the following week. When the original dates were released, mass outcry from the student body resulted in a change of dates.
Etown’s policy against discrimination and harassment is stated “Elizabethtown College does not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind, or bullying against any member of the Elizabethtown College community,” the student handbook says
It is more than just a statement but a promise that Director of Residence Life Tara Hoover takes very seriously.
“We want everyone to be aware of the policies and resources on campus in the event of incidents in the future,” Hoover said. “All our students are part of the Elizabethtown College community and play a role in setting the standards for acceptable behavior in their communities.”
A major focus of these meetings will also be the steps to take if you are a victim of a bias incident. The handbook provides their definition of a bias incident, then explains where students should go to take action. They can submit a report to Residence Life, the Office of Civil Rights, Opportunity, and Access or by filling out a Bias Incident Form found on the college’s website. Students are also encouraged to seek counseling services or the College’s Chaplain, Amy Shorner-Johnson. In more extreme cases, campus security can be called.
Once reported, the college will review the case to determine the consequence based on the “severity and frequency” of the incident.
Title IX is a federal law that prevents discrimination based on sex at colleges and universities. For the Title IX portion of the meetings, RA’s will be going over that section of the handbook. Similarly, it will discuss the different ways harassment by sex can look like and go over the resources that can be used to prevent it.
Ober Residence Hall RA John Harrison said he is looking forward to conducting the meetings.
“It is always important to me to make Etown a safe and inclusive community for all, so by conducting these meetings, we hope that all students understand the consequences of a bias incident and how it impacts themselves and the campus community as a whole,” Harrison said.
He described the goal as, “understanding how to be a supportive friend to those who go through these situations and remind students of the resources that are available.”
Harrison has not seen any sort of trouble during his time as an RA this year.
“I have been very lucky to have a great floor where the worst thing that has happened has been a toilet clogging,” he joked.
Hoover and the rest of Residence Life are taking measures to prevent these events from happening in the future. On the first day of new student orientation next year, Residence Life will hold floor meetings to “discuss and set the standards for their floor.”
Hoover is adamant about not letting these infractions define what Etown stands for.
“We strive to create a sense of belonging for everyone on campus and these incidents run counter to that goal and the values of Etown,” she said.
