Faculty stress steps forward on assault

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Winston Crisp told members of the Board of Trustees Wednesday that he’s concerned students in need of guidance are not soliciting it due to a series of federal complaints that have prompted widespread criticism of UNC’s sexual assault policies.

“One of the challenges we have these days in the midst of all these conversations is a chill on campus in our culture,” Crisp said at the university affairs committee meeting. “We have plenty of students out there that probably need to come in and get help, but because of all these issues right now, they are afraid to do so.

“That’s what keeps me up at night. That’s what I’m spending all my time trying to figure out how to change.”

The University is facing three federal complaints concerning its treatment of sexual assault victims — two of which have prompted federal reviews conducted by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and Clery Act Compliance Division.

Sophomore Landen Gambill has been a complainant in each. She was charged with a conduct violation of the University’s Honor Code that claims she has engaged in intimidating or disruptive behavior against the male student she has publicly accused of raping her. The most recent complaint accuses the University of retaliation through the charge.

Chancellor Holden Thorp said Tuesday he has asked the undergraduate student attorney general to suspend the Honor Court hearing.

Jan Boxill, chairwoman of the faculty, applauded his decision and also said the appointment of several new positions dealing with sexual assault is a step forward.

“This is an issue that affects all of us,” she said. “No policy or system is going to be perfect. We recognize the infallibility of humans, but doing nothing is certainly not an option.”

Jayne Grandes began March 18 the position of investigator in the Equal Opportunity/Americans with Disabilities Act Office, a role tasked with looking into complaints of sexual misconduct.

Ew Quimbaya-Winship has served as UNC’s deputy Title IX officer, or student complaint coordinator, since March 11. He is the initial contact for sexual assault victims on campus.

He previously worked as a Title IX coordinator at Warren Wilson College in Asheville, leading an effort to reshape its sexual assault policy.

“We just revamped our policy there, so I’ve gone through that process and had to fight the fights and battle the battles,” he told the committee.

He said he is committed to working with both those who are filing charges and the ones charged with crimes.

“Because there are both sides to a story, both sides deserve to be respected,” he said.

Crisp said the criticism of UNC’s handling of sexual assault cases is overshadowing the work of his office to foster a supportive educational environment.

“This is all a testament to the level of care that people have about these issues,” he said.

He added that the fact that a new chancellor has not been selected adds complexity to administrators’ policy review.

“There’s a lot of angst in the air, just about the uncertainty of where we’re going, that should be fine once we put some values into these variables,” he said.

“I promise that we are going to get there.”

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