Brigham Young University announced Wednesday it will no longer punish students for Honor Code violations they disclose while reporting sexual assaults.
As stated on their website:
“A concern for the intellectual, emotional, social, physical and spiritual well-being of its students is deeply engrained in Brigham Young University’s identity and purpose. This concern for the total person demands a corresponding commitment to creating an environment that is edifying, secure and safe.
Sexual misconduct (which includes sexual assault, stalking, sexual harassment and dating/domestic violence) destroys such an environment, violates core doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and causes significant trauma for the victim—intellectually, emotionally, socially, physically and spiritually.
In May 2016, BYU President Kevin J Worthen organized the Advisory Council on Campus Response to Sexual Assault with a charge to identify changes that will help BYU work toward the elimination of sexual assault on campus and determine how to better handle the reporting process for victims of sexual assault. Its final report is now public and details the Advisory Council’s findings and recommendations. In a letter to the campus community, President Worthen announced that the university has accepted all 23 of the Advisory Council’s recommendations.”
Here are some of the recommendations that they have implemented:
- Create a new, full-time Title IX coordinator position to replace the existing part-time Title IX coordinator position.
- Create a victim advocate / confidential advisor position.
- Create a new, physical space to house the Title IX Office in a location separate from the Honor Code Office.
- Ensure that, unless the health or safety of others is at risk, the Title IX Office does not share information with the Honor Code Office about the complainant without the complainant’s consent.
- Adopt an amnesty clause.
You can read the full disclosure and statement from BYU here.
