Sent: 2013-02-26
From: William L. Perry, President
To: Students, Employees

Subject: Members of the Campus Community

Members of the Campus Community,

Recent discussions on our campus have drawn attention to the issue of
sexual assault, which is an issue of importance at all university and
college campuses, and more broadly in global society. Sexual assault is
criminal conduct and has no place in our university community. Our policy
has been and continues to be that sexual assault will not be tolerated.

As a result of the discussions on campus and with the advice and input of
many, including the university's long-standing Sexual Assault Task Force,
we are moving forward to take specific actions to improve education and
outreach, to make the process of reporting of incidents more transparent
and well-known, and to enhance advocacy.

Among the actions we will take are the following: Creation of a position
in Student Affairs with a primary responsibility of assisting students who
have suffered sexual assault; Engagement of a consultant for training of
university personnel on issues associated with sexual assault;
Acceleration of efforts to educate the university community about
university policy, how to report sexual assault, and appropriate ways to
respond to individuals who have suffered sexual assault.

Our students, faculty, and staff deserve an environment free of sexual
assault and in which the university will thoughtfully and properly respond
to the needs of individuals who have been sexually assaulted. The actions
we are taking in the coming weeks and months are intended to have
long-term effect and to strongly support such an environment.

I pledge my support of the collaboration of university administrative
offices, the Sexual Assault Task Force, and other concerned campus
constituencies, as we work to enhance the campus climate and environment.

William L. Perry
President