Minutes

Safer Schools Sexual Assault Task Force Meeting

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

2:00 pm- 4:00 pm

25 Van Ness Ave, Room 610

San Francisco, CA, 94102

 

 

Participants:

 

Task Force Members

Captain Una Bailey

Denise Caramagno

Minouche Kandel, on behalf of Luoluo Hong

J. Ocean Mottley

Leslie Simon

Stacey Wiggall

Denise Sicat Wong

 

Absent:

Amelia Gilbert

Janelle White

 

Consultant

Julia Weber

 

Members of the Public

Leilani Battiste, City College of San Francisco

Emberly Cross, Cooperative Restraining Order Clinic

Vida Kuong, Community Youth Center San Francisco

Gabby Molina

Krys Maysard

Maggie McHale, Department on the Status of Women

Sophie Raynor

 

 

1. Agenda Approved. [Kandel/Caramagno]

 

2. Approved the March 28, 2017 meeting minutes with minor edits by the group. [Mottley/Simon]

 

3. Presentation on Student Voices and Input

Denise Sicat Wong and the Youth Advisory Council have conducted interviews (about 18 to 20) with San Francisco college and university students. Students were recruited through outreach to on campus organizations that work on sexual assault, gender/ sexuality issues, and other related issues.  Interviews were conducted individually and in groups. The student interviews have been kept anonymous.   The students interviewed are equally distributed from four different universities in San Francisco, except only one student was from City College. All but one are undergraduate students. Through the student interviews Denise and the Youth Advisory Council developed a six-point summary of student recommendations. These recommendations are listed below:

 

1. To provide trauma- informed sensitivity training for all individuals who may work with a survivor.
   1. There is a need for a training for administration and teachers to not infantilize survivors.
   2. There is a need for a training on how to deal with gender non-conforming students and sexual assault. 
2. To have a confidential victim advocate and clearer mandatory reporting information.
   1. Students employed by the school are usually mandated reporters. Student advocates therefore are unable to provide confidential support for students.
   2. Title XI refers to employees who are required to report as “responsible employees” not “mandated reporters.”  Some universities are broader on their understanding on “responsible employees.” The Federal law is vague and therefore it is somewhat up to the school to decide who is required to report. Schools should have clear information for students about who is a “responsible employee.”
   3. There is a misunderstanding among students on what mandatory reporting means. For example, does a report require reporting of the incident or the incident as well as the victim’s identity?
3. To develop appropriate and trauma informed mass notification services.
   1. Mass notifications tell the student what has happened, but the students would like to know what to do after that event has occurred.
   2. The notification system should focus on protecting off- campus students too, not just on- campus.
4. To establish a Survivor Wellness/ Resource Center.
   1. The amount of information provided on off- campus resources is inconsistent among the different campuses. 
   2. Students do not know where to go to report assaults.  A recommendation is to create a designated space where the victim advocate can be housed and were students can receive resources.
5. To increase funding for existing resources.
   1. Further funding for counseling and mental health resources.
   2. Fund counseling to sexual assailants or male intervention programs.
6. To address incidents perpetrated by non-students.
   1. San Francisco campuses are in urban settings and the risk of assault by non-students exists.
7. Create a culture where survivors feel supported.
   1. Examples like consent week, letters to survivors, etc. can help to establish a supportive culture.

 

Other concerns addressed by students in the interviews mentioned sexual harassment and stalking cases that were not taken seriously by the campuses.  Students identified that replacing no contact orders with a less retraumatizing alternative would allow victims to continue their education.  Accountability for administrators making inappropriate public remarks regarding sexual assault was a concern shared by the interviewed students as well.  Denise will send the presentation to Julia and Julia will disperse to the group.

 

 

4. Update From Focus Areas
   1. Policy Development and Implementation

Denise Caramagno and J. Ocean Mottley discussed the creation of some kind of board to hear complaints, either convened by the City or a combination of institutions. J. Ocean Mottley will create a document that can assist a conversation around these questions on City jurisdiction and reporting mandates for the next Task Force meeting. 

 

2. Prevention and Education

Leslie Simon has drafted a survey for San Francisco Colleges and Universities to collect data on what sexual assault programing is available to students at each College and University. The goal of this survey is to collect data on the gaps that exist among the Universities and Colleges. The survey would be administered on behalf of the Task Force over the phone or in person to the different schools.   The Department on the Status of Women will have an intern who can help to administer these calls. Julia will distribute the draft survey to the group. If any one from the group has suggestions for the draft they will email Julia by May 8^th. Gena Castro Rodriguez will forward Julia the contact list used by the District Attorney’s Office in the creation of the MOUs with the schools, so as to have a more complete list of contacts for the survey.

 

3. Reporting Options, Advocacy, and Support Services

Accessibility of an online reporting system would be very helpful to survivors. Stacey will contact Denise to learn more on the program used at UCSF for anonymous reporting.  It would be ideal to have a full time, well trained advocate for survivors on each campus. That could either be a staff or volunteer position outside of the Title XI office. If this were a volunteer position it would be possible to use existing resources to offer training for the position. It would be beneficial for campus advocates to create their own task force or advisory board to keep student voices at the table. Kris will check with the graphic design department at the Academy of Art University to help with the DAs pamphlet for the Sexual Assault Resource Awareness brochure.

 

Next Meeting: May 23, 2017, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

San Francisco State, Student Services Building (SSB), 401 Conference Room

San Francisco, CA, 94132