Robert Bates announced plans to strengthen guidelines and promote transparency.

Brian Everstine Daily Evergreen staff The WSU sexual harassment policy will place a stronger focus on victim’s rights and the consequences for guilty faculty, wrote WSU Provost Robert Bates in a campus-wide announcement released Tuesday.

Bates will personally lead a review of the sexual harassment policy because different aspects need to be fortified, he wrote.

“I feel that it [the policy] must be strengthened in specific ways,” Bates wrote. “For example, the policy should be amended to more clearly prohibit employees from engaging in or attempting to initiate an amorous relationship with those over whom they have any level of supervision.” All students who feel they have been harassed are asked to report the incidents to the WSU Center for Human Rights, Bates wrote. For future CHR cases, all proceedings and consequences will be reported to the victim.

In 2004, Susan Gardner – a victim of sexual harassment in the College of Education – reported her case to the CHR but was not aware of any action taken until she attended a harassment seminar later that year, she said.

“The results of the harassment investigations will be communicated to victims,” Bates wrote. “That includes sharing not only the CHR report, but also reporting the steps actually taken by the provost, dean or other supervisor in response to the report’s recommendations.” Students will have input in possible changes to policy and time lines will be developed for carrying out disciplinary actions, Bates wrote.

Gardner said different forces at WSU have pressured students to not report harassment in the past, including WSU faculty telling victims not to report an incident.

Two victims, Gardner and graduate student Christina Garcia, have gone public stating they were harassed by separate professors in the College of Education. Gardner’s case occurred between October 2003 and mid-2004 and involved WSU ignoring her claims and questions, she said.

Garcia went public on Nov. 10 regarding an incident with distinguished professor Bernardo Gallegos. She is now involved in a lawsuit brought against the College of Education.

The ramifications of sexual harassment will drastically increase in severity, Bates wrote. Actions taken in response could include: “warnings, letters of reprimand or censure, the denial of professional leave requests, salary reductions, suspension and termination.” The goal of actions taken will be to reduce future offenses and this could include terminations of tenured professors that very rarely occur now, Bates wrote.

“In some cases, we may commence termination proceedings, even for tenured faculty,” Bates wrote. “In other cases, faculty will be reprimanded and required to attend trainings as a means to prevent future offenses.” Also, a quarterly report from the CHR will be released to the campus to make the university’s dealings regarding sexual harassment more transparent, Bates wrote.

DaVina Hoyt, Graduate and Professional Student Association president, said the announcement is a step in the right direction. “It is encouraging to know that the administration was bold enough to announce this and show that they care about students,” Hoyt said. “If students are assured by the provost that nothing will happen to them, more students will come forward and report harassment.” The university does not tolerate sexual harassment, Bates wrote, and will work its hardest to properly respond.

“WSU is committed to preventing its occurrence,” he wrote, “and responding with appropriate discipline when it does occur.”