The University took the necessary steps last week to rid its discrimination and harassment policies of red tape and bias. By whittling down the list of places to file a complaint, the University has clarified the reporting process. And the promise of an external review, paired with defense against retaliatory action, should create a culture in which those who feel wronged don’t have to choose between their careers and reporting an offense.
The review of UNC’s Policy on Prohibited Harassment and Discrimination began last spring when a graduate student was forced to stay an extra year after a sexual harassment suit forced her to break with her adviser, undermining her prior research. It quickly became clear that the problem was more rampant, as many reported the system was both inaccessible and confusing.
In directing the community to the two most sensible administrative branches — the Equal Opportunity/ADA Office or the Dean of Students Office — the University has removed that confusion. More importantly, the new policy dictates that any complaint against a faculty member must be adjudicated by someone outside the department. The possibility of injecting bias into an investigation only serves to dissuade students who report infractions, making this step an absolute necessity.
But there is still work to be done. The scope of the policy, as articulated by the University, largely excluded housekeepers, who have complained that supervisors take sides in harassment investigations. The policy also included no mention of discrimination among student groups, an issue that is now under investigation after Psalm 100’s ousting of Will Thomason. UNC should show similar responsiveness in that investigation.
