The Acquaintance/Date Rape Task Force was convened by V.P.S.A. Dr. Glen Williams to address concerns about the incidence of sexual assault on the EIU campus at the time. This is one of several such reports, and contains recommendations for institutional responses to prevent campus sexual assaults

Buckley, Bonnie

Chasteen, Rhonda

Ealy, Mike

Eberly, Charles G

Leal, Linda

Rawlins, Melanie

Zuhone, Diana

English

The Keep

Eastern Illinois University
The Keep
Faculty Research & Creative Activity Counseling & Student Development
October 1990
Final Report of the Acquaintance/Date Rape Task
Force
Bonnie Buckley
Eastern Illinois University
Rhonda Chasteen
Eastern Illinois University
Mike Ealy
Eastern Illinois University
Charles G. Eberly
Eastern Illinois University, cgeberly@eiu.edu
Linda Leal
Eastern Illinois University
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Recommended Citation
Buckley, Bonnie; Chasteen, Rhonda; Ealy, Mike; Eberly, Charles G.; Leal, Linda; Rawlins, Melanie; and Zuhone, Diana, "Final Report
of the Acquaintance/Date Rape Task Force" (1990). Faculty Research & Creative Activity. 2.
http://thekeep.eiu.edu/csd_fac/2
Authors
Bonnie Buckley, Rhonda Chasteen, Mike Ealy, Charles G. Eberly, Linda Leal, Melanie Rawlins, and Diana
Zuhone
This is available at The Keep: http://thekeep.eiu.edu/csd_fac/2
FINAL REPORT
OF THE
ACQUAINTANCE/DATE RAPE TASK FORCE
Prepared for
Dr. Glenn Williams
Vice President For Student Affairs
October 23, 1990
TASK FORCE MEMBERS
Bonnie Buckley, Sexual Assault Counseling and Information
Service
Rhonda Chasteen, Affirmative Action
Mike Ealy, Crime Prevention officer-University Police
Department
Charles Eberly, Educational Psychology and Guidance
Linda Leal, Women's Studies Council/Psychology
Genie Lenihan, Counseling Center/Women's Studies Council
Melanie Rawlins, Educational Psychology and Guidance/Women's
Studies Council
Diana ZuHone, Judicial Affairs
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Angela Abrahamson
Kellie Cox
Susan Fanale
Betsy Masters
INTRODUCTION
In February of 1989 a video-teleconference on
Acquaintance/Date Rape was televised in Buzzard Auditorium.
Sponsored by the Office of Student Housing, the Percy Julian
Fund, the Affirmative Action Office, and the Women's Studies
Council, the teleconference examined the issues of
acquaintance/date rape on our nation's campuses. The
Acquaintance/Date Rape Task Force was established in March
of 1989 to examine institutional and individual responses to
the issue of sexual assault/abuse at Eastern Illinois
University.
The problems and issues surrounding acquaintance/date
rape concerns students, faculty, administrators, and staff
at Eastern Illinois University. The emotional trauma
experienced by victims following sexual assault is often so
intense it affects their emotional well-being which, in
turn, may affect academic performance and retention. civil
lawsuits filed by victims of sexual assaults occurring on
campus often claim the university failed to make students
aware of the possibility of acquaintance/date rape. Eastern
Illinois University needs to be prepared to deal with such
possibilities. Implementing proactive programs and policies
such as the ones suggested within the following set of
recommendations would be a positive first step in the
University's attempt to address acquaintance/rape.
Even though the Task Force has developed a set of
innovative recommendations for the administration to
consider, it is important to recognize the improvements
which have taken place at EIU over the recent past.
security and safety improvements on campus since March of
1989 have included additional outside lighting and the
installation of emergency phones through funds provided by
the Office of Student Housing. The external setting of the
University, as it relates to security, underwent a
significant face-lift with these additions. Eastern has
long maintained an internal structure developed to deal with
issues of safety in University owned housing as well as with
matters involving student conduct. This structure has been
preserved by a strong commitment to safety and security
issues by the Director of Housing, Louis V. Henken, and his
staff. Representative of this commitment to security and
safety, Housing has provided the funds needed to operate the
Judicial Affairs Office and the Office of AIDS, Alcohol, and
Drug Information. The Housing Office also publishes and
disseminates a safety booklet which includes information on
date/acquaintance rape to all residence hall students.
EIU's Counseling Center continues to provide
confidential services, at no charge to students, to victims
of sexual assault/abuse as well as offenders. The
Counseling Center has developed support groups and presented
programs which deal with the issues of sexual assault/abuse.
The ~exual Assault ~ounseling and ~nformation ~ervice, has
presented programs during New Student Orientation, to Health
1200 and other classes, and has conducted various in-service
trainings for Housing staff and support personnel. The
Women's Studies Council has sponsored a variety of
16
programming on campus which relates to violence against
women.
The University Judicial Affairs Office is prepared to
deal with the sexual assault/abuse incidents which may
occur. The University Judicial Board has been trained in
the issues of sexual assault/abuse. The student Conduct
Code supplies the procedures necessary to provide
disciplinary hearings which respect the rights and
privileges of the victim as well as the accused. The Board
consists of approximately 30 staff and students assuring a
fair mix of male and female Board members hearing such
cases. victims are encouraged to use the
advocacy/counseling services provided by SACIS and the
counseling services provided by the Counseling Center during
the initial investigation of the complaint and hearing
itself. In addition, victims are made aware of their
options in the criminal and civil court systems.
The Acquaintance/Date Rape Task Force realizes although
there have been many positive improvements regarding sexual
assault/abuse, more still needs to be done. With such in
mind, it is recommended that the President's Council appoint
a committee charged to monitor the implementation of the
following set of recommendations.
The following recommendations are based upon the
collective professional and personal expertise of the Task
Force members and the results of the ~exual ~xperiences
~urvey. Recommendations are not listed in priority order.
Each is considered an important element in creating and
17
maintaining a safe, secure campus promoting healthy personal
development and relationships for all members of the EIU
community.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Preventive Education
1. Because so few aggressors or victims of sexual
abuse/assault surveyed at EIU identified their
experience accurately, it is recommended that a
brochure describing all aspects of sexual misconduct
and assaults, emphasizing personal sexual rights,
appropriate behavior, and preventative measures be
distributed to all students.
2. Because five percent of freshmen women and 10.2% of
freshmen men surveyed at EIU reported acts of sexual
coercion or assault within the initial weeks of their
college experience, it is recommended that mandatory
acquaintance rape programming be undertaken with all
incoming students.
3. Because so many men in this study misperceived their
own level of threat and did not recognize women's
resistance, it is recommended that mandatory
educational programming on coercive sexual behavior be
undertaken particularly with male student groups, such
as athletic groups, social and professional fraternal
organizations, and all-male residence halls.
4. Because alcohol was a factor in at least two-thirds of
reported incidents of sexual assault, it is recommended
that on-going education regarding the negative
consequences of alcohol use on judgment and behavior in
sexual situations be emphasized in the University
alcohol education programming for both male and female
students.
5. Many respondents in this survey also indicated that
unwanted sexual contact occurred because a man misused
his position of authority. As sexual assault can be an
extreme form of sexual harassment which is clearly
prohibited by University policy, it is recommended that
the dissemination of information to faculty, staff, and
administrators describing behaviors which tall under
the Sexual Harassment Policy be increased and
strengthened in order to promote a campus environment
free from sexual aggression.
6. It is further recommended that educational programming
for students be increased in order to enable them to
18
recognize sexual harassment, to understand how to react
to incidents of sexual harassment, and to know how they
are protected by university policy.
Responding to victims
7. Because less than five percent of women on campus who
were victims of sexual abuse/assault indicated that
they consulted a professional helper, it is highly
recommended that outreach eff.orts and publicity
describing the available confidential services be
strengthened and expanded.
8. Because so many students have experienced some level of
sexual aggression, it is recommended that a brochure
urging victims to contact a helping person be developed
and provided to all students.
9. Many students entering EIU have already experienced
assault and have not had professional help. Because
such students are vulnerable to further victimization,
it is recommended that outreach programming and
counseling services for past abuse and assaults be
improved. Such programming should specifically target
new students.
10. It is recommended that a brochure on child and
adolescent sexual abuse be developed and disseminated
to the campus community.
11. Because most students fail to consult a helper about
their sexual abuse or assault and because we believe a
general misunderstanding may exist which links
counseling services to law enforcement, it is
recommended that students on campus be clearly assured
that consulting a helping service does NOT require that
they report to a law enforcement agency.
Addressing Aggressors
12. It is recommended that all campus student services and
law enforcement personnel who may encounter offenders
among EIU students be well trained in appropriate
interventions.
13. It is recommended that campus personnel working with
all male groups, such as coaches and faculty advisors,
have in-service workshops to educate them in
appropriate strategies to eo~at the acceptance ("bOys
will be boysll) of rape supportive attitudes.
14. The University Police response to reported abuse and
assault needs to be more publicly clarified for both
male and female students.
19
15. The Judicial Affairs Office response to incidents of
sexual assault needs to be publicized so that the
process and firmness of disciplinary action is clear to
all students.
Campus Environment
16. Because alcohol is a significant factor in
approximately 70% of the occurrences of sexual abuse
and assault, it is recommended the university
strengthen it's position in order to eliminate the
possession and use of alcohol by students under 21 in
residence halls and at any University sanctioned
activity on university property in which students under
21 would be participating.
17. Because drinking parties are a significant locale for
initiating sexually abusive behaviors, the university
needs to encourage local law enforcement agencies to
enforce existing ordinances governing alcohol use by
minors.
18. It is recommended that the university explore the
inclusion of a clear statement of ethical expectations
in all employee contracts. Such a statement would
indicate that sexual harassment is contrary to the most
fundamental ethical canons of the academic community
and violates the special bond of intellectual
dependence and trust between students and faculty. The
professional relationship of faculty and their students
should take precedence over any other relationship.
19. It is recommended that the Vice President for Academic
Affairs annually disseminate information to faculty
regarding the programs and services available to the
university by the Sexual Assault counseling and
Information service thus encouraging their use in
relevant class settings.
20. Because the ~exual Assault ~ounseling and Information
~ervice provides public education, professional
training programs, counseling, advocacy services to EIU
students and employees, and as it is not a University
department receiving University support, it is
recommended that EIU allocate annual funding to assist
SACIS in defraying expenses incurred at EIU.
21. Because the vast majority of criminal sexual assault
incidents occur between students in their rooms, it is
recommended that the University require adult live-in
advisors for all off-campus fraternity-sorority houses.
Such.advisors should be well screened and should
participate in appropriate training which includes
effective responses to incidents of assault/abuse.
20
22. The Office of Student Housing should continue residence
hall living options so that visitation by members of
the opposite sex is limited to specific times/halls. A
uniform closing time should be maintained for all
residence halls.
23. It is recommended that all resident assistants should
participate in training which provides them with
effective responses to sexual abuse and sexual assault.
In addition they should be trained in the appropriate
response to incidents which may involve security, law
enforcement, and the media. The Office of Student
Housing should develop a protocol which clarifies the
role of all Residence Hall personnel in responding to
incidents of sexual assault.
24. It is recommended that the university develop a written
protocol which clarifies the role of all university
personnel in responding to sexual abuse/assault.
25. In order to promote a climate which is safe, equitable,
and sexually respectful for both men and women and to
promote sex-role attitudes which affirm that every
individual is of equal importance and worth, it is
recommended that a University board of review be
appointed to evaluate all university supported
activities, policies, and publications to insure
freedom from gender bias and sexual exploitation.
26. It is recommended that the President's council develop
a written university policy-to be disseminated to all
parents and students by letter and to be included in
the University student Code. This policy should
condemn sexual misconduct by University students,
reinforce the helping services available for victims,
and reassert the firm judicial response the University
will take against offenders.


Final Report of the Acquaintance/Date Rape Task Force

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Final Report of the Acquaintance/Date Rape Task Force

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