Under Title IX rights it is required for all incoming students at LBCC to participate in the Personal Empowerment Through Self Advocacy (PETSA) training online. The purpose of the training is to empower students through providing interpersonal awareness skills to increase confidence in dealing with harassment and other social discomforts on or off campus.
When it comes to harassment at Linn-Benton Community College, crime-data reports support there isn’t an obvious reason to raise immediate concern about campus safety, but it makes for no excuse for members of the community to slack on taking precautions. When students take PETSA training they become more aware of how to handle discrimination and harassment situations as a victim and as a bystander.
“There is a lot to be said for students influencing students at times more powerfully and effectively than a teacher or manager might be able to,” said Lynne Cox, assistant dean of student affairs.
Out of 55 students surveyed only 39 reported having taken the PETSA training, while 16 said they hadn’t. All of the students agreed that their experience on campus has been positive and safe, and that if there was a more prominent risk of harassment that they would invest more in trainings.
“I know Oregon State has had issues, but here we have more of a community setting. I feel like everyone helps out everybody,” said Mikayla, an LBCC sophomore.
The training is supposed to help students to recognize what harassment really is, and isn’t, in legal terms. About 20 reports a year have, when investigated, boiled down to a matter of, “Someone’s bothering me and I haven’t learned what to do when someone’s bothering me,” said Cox. “The nicest thing you can do is set clear boundaries and use clear communications.”
In order to approach the LBCC community more realistically, Public Safety Coordinator Marcene Olson, Human Resources Director Scott Rolen, and Lynne Cox collaborated with students working in their offices to adapt the training to be less gender-biased.
“It was important to [us] to communicate to our community that every person can be part of the solution and that every person can be a victim,” said Cox.
In 2014 policy changes to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), victims of Title IX violation dating violence such as stalking or sexual harassment have more control in the course of disciplinary action following a report. Upon request of a “student victim” of an off campus Title IX violation, LBCC Equal Opportunity Coordinators have the responsibility to take action, where previously the only option for a victim was to report to the police if they had experienced harassment or assault off campus.
Stalking has been part of the refocusing of VAWA laws. Stalking has been “more prominent” than sexual harassment cases at LBCC according to Cox, and usually when a high conflict situation occurs it stems from dating gone bad.
“We’re a microcosm of our greater community. . . every criminal that exists in our society goes to school here just like every great person that exists in our society. . .Each person is responsible for his/her choices or actions. We can never excuse our own behavior or conduct by saying we were only responding to someone else's choices,” said Cox.
Future plans for a more hands-on training approach towards dealing with student health and safety issues depend on funds. The federal government creates mandatory laws regarding student health and offers no funding for colleges to swiftly implement them.
“We made a budget proposal; request for a full-time educator to develop outreach activities and workshops on topics of student health, in partnership with Human Resources, Public Safety, and Student Affairs. That position would cost $60-75,000 per year. It is not likely to be funded this year, as there are so many other urgent student needs and positions in line for consideration,” said Cox.
In 2009 there was a series of student health workshops starting on Valentine's Day resulting in a mere three student attendance. The lack of student involvement on this subject hasn’t changed. During winter term there were 700 students invited to an advisor event orienting around student health subjects, but only seven students came. About 99 percent of students did not follow up on the opportunity.
Out of 55 students surveyed only 39 reported having taken the PETSA training, while 16 said they hadn’t. All of the students agreed that their experience on campus has been positive and safe, and that if there was a more prominent risk of harassment that they would invest more in trainings.
“I know Oregon State has had issues, but here we have more of a community setting. I feel like everyone helps out everybody,” said Mikayla, an LBCC sophomore.
The training is supposed to help students to recognize what harassment really is, and isn’t, in legal terms. About 20 reports a year have, when investigated, boiled down to a matter of, “Someone’s bothering me and I haven’t learned what to do when someone’s bothering me,” said Cox. “The nicest thing you can do is set clear boundaries and use clear communications.”
In order to approach the LBCC community more realistically, Public Safety Coordinator Marcene Olson, Human Resources Director Scott Rolen, and Lynne Cox collaborated with students working in their offices to adapt the training to be less gender-biased.
“It was important to [us] to communicate to our community that every person can be part of the solution and that every person can be a victim,” said Cox.
In 2014 policy changes to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), victims of Title IX violation dating violence such as stalking or sexual harassment have more control in the course of disciplinary action following a report. Upon request of a “student victim” of an off campus Title IX violation, LBCC Equal Opportunity Coordinators have the responsibility to take action, where previously the only option for a victim was to report to the police if they had experienced harassment or assault off campus.
Stalking has been part of the refocusing of VAWA laws. Stalking has been “more prominent” than sexual harassment cases at LBCC according to Cox, and usually when a high conflict situation occurs it stems from dating gone bad.
“We’re a microcosm of our greater community. . . every criminal that exists in our society goes to school here just like every great person that exists in our society. . .Each person is responsible for his/her choices or actions. We can never excuse our own behavior or conduct by saying we were only responding to someone else's choices,” said Cox.
Future plans for a more hands-on training approach towards dealing with student health and safety issues depend on funds. The federal government creates mandatory laws regarding student health and offers no funding for colleges to swiftly implement them.
“We made a budget proposal; request for a full-time educator to develop outreach activities and workshops on topics of student health, in partnership with Human Resources, Public Safety, and Student Affairs. That position would cost $60-75,000 per year. It is not likely to be funded this year, as there are so many other urgent student needs and positions in line for consideration,” said Cox.
In 2009 there was a series of student health workshops starting on Valentine's Day resulting in a mere three student attendance. The lack of student involvement on this subject hasn’t changed. During winter term there were 700 students invited to an advisor event orienting around student health subjects, but only seven students came. About 99 percent of students did not follow up on the opportunity.
“We would like to see more education and engagement of students in many issues of student health: Drugs, alcohol education, employability skills; development of communication and problem solving skills,” said Cox.
Where to Report:
Lynne Cox’s office, Assistant Associate of Student Affairs (for student vs. student) in Takena Room-107B
Scott Rolen’s office, Human Resource Director (for student vs. employee): rolens@linnbenton.edu
Public Safety: Red Cedar Hall Room-119
Safety
Report a Complaint
Sexual Harassment Qualifications:
Unwanted verbal or nonverbal behavior by third party or one who is directly involved.
Creates a hostile environment (makes people uncomfortable).
Interferes with person(s) ability to perform their work/duties safely and effectively.
Examples of harassment include, but are not limited to: comments, slurs, jokes, symbols, innuendos, cartoons, pranks, physical harassment, etc., which are derogatory on the basis of Title IX policy characteristics.
Where to Report:
Lynne Cox’s office, Assistant Associate of Student Affairs (for student vs. student) in Takena Room-107B
Scott Rolen’s office, Human Resource Director (for student vs. employee): rolens@linnbenton.edu
Public Safety: Red Cedar Hall Room-119
Safety
Report a Complaint
Sexual Harassment Qualifications:
Unwanted verbal or nonverbal behavior by third party or one who is directly involved.
Creates a hostile environment (makes people uncomfortable).
Interferes with person(s) ability to perform their work/duties safely and effectively.
Examples of harassment include, but are not limited to: comments, slurs, jokes, symbols, innuendos, cartoons, pranks, physical harassment, etc., which are derogatory on the basis of Title IX policy characteristics.
