Dive Summary:
- A Southern Methodist University task force assembled to address campus sexual assaults released a report Wednesday offering 41 recommendations to prevent the crimes, including education and prevention programs, more sexual assault counselors and multiple ways to report crimes.
- The 20-member task force, led by trustee Kelly Compton, was created last fall by SMU President R. Gerald Turner after the university came under fire for its handling of sexual assault cases, two of which have already been reported on the campus this year.
- One of the suggestions, a potentially mandatory good-citizenship course, will be tested in the fall, and Compton notes that while the suggestions made by the task force may initially increase the number of sexual assaults reported, increased prevention and education should hopefully lead to a decrease over time.
From the article:
... “We’ve given the administration some tools to work with, but it’s up to them how far they’re going to take it,” task force member Courtney Underwood Newsome said. “What are they going to do about it? What steps are going to be taken to really redefine the culture on campus?” ...