Dean of the College Lee Pelton has told students working to reform the Committee on Standards' sexual abuse procedures he would be interested in meeting with them and other administrators in the near future.
In an electronic-mail message to Emily Stephens '97 and Zamira Ha '97, Pelton said a meeting would allow the students and appropriate administrators "to discuss your recommendations, discuss how the current system actually works and discuss what our next steps might be."
The two sophomores were involved in two separate groups that formed last term in response to Stephens' allegations that the administration mishandled the sexual abuse charge she made against another student last year.
At the end of last term, each group presented the administration withrecommendations to improve the COS process.
Stephens' group recommended the College require both students to be on campus when COS hearings take place and create clearly-written pamphlets to tell students how to file sexual assault complaints with the COS.
Ha's group did not specifically address COS procedures in its recommendations, but suggested the College examine how students are advised about sexual abuse cases, how support systems for victims are advertised and how deans and administrators are trained to deal with such matters.
Stephens said the meeting with administrators will definitely take place during the summer, but said a specific date has not been determined.
"I think there's a great potential for very positive things to come out of this," Ha said.
She said she is happy that Pelton wants to involve the members of the groups in the process of discussing the recommendations.
In his BlitzMail message, Pelton recommended that a maximum of two other students be invited to attend the meeting.
Stephens said she nominated Debbie Carbonaro '97 to attend the meeting.
According to Stephens, Carbonaro, who is a member of the Rape Education Action Committee and also undergoing Sexual Assault Peer Advisor training, "has a lot of experience with sexual assault issues."
Stephens said she is currently working with Carbonaro,Judy Meadows '97 and Assistant Coordinator of Sexual Awareness and Abuse Programs Liza Veto to research some of the recommendations.
Ha said she is "continually trying to read up on the subject," and wants to be well-prepared for the meeting.
Stephens predicted that, after her meeting with Pelton, a research committee will be formed to examine the recommendations that need further investigation, while the recommendations that do not need research will either immediately be made into COS policy or sent to proper channels for approval.
Ha also said many of her group's recommendations are more long- term than others.
The recommendation to consider the training and education of advisers will need to be researched in depth, while the recommendation to provide bathroom stickers with the names and numbers of people to contact in cases of sexual abuse will not require much research, she said.
