Two sexual assaults reported in one week

Since last Friday, two sexual assaults occurring on or near the Homewood Campus have been reported to the University. A total of seven sexual assaults at Homewood have been reported since the beginning of 2018.

In an email to The News-Letter, Title IX Coordinator Joy Gaslevic explained that all institutions, including Hopkins, are required to record all reported criminal incidents that occur on campus or in campus security patrol areas. Copies of crime logs for the past 60 days can be found on the Campus Safety and Security website. 

Gaslevic described the process through which reports of sexual assault are investigated by the University.

“Once the University receives a report of sexual misconduct, we reach out to the complainant to connect and provide resources,” she wrote. “In all cases, we also assess safety and security risks or concerns based on the information we have at the time.”

After gathering information, the University implements interim measures, which may include connecting students to counseling, academic or security support. The Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) works with each complainant to discuss future actions.

Gaslevic stressed the OIE’s focus on confidentiality when responding to sexual misconduct.

“OIE remains committed to handling reports of sexual assault with discretion, minimizing the number of individuals who need to be involved in responding to a report, and... providing consideration of the wishes of the complaining party,” she wrote.

The University’s Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedures, available online, detail the full process of responding to sexual assault. 

The two most recent sexual assault reports follow the release of the University’s 2018 Anonymous Climate Survey on Sexual Misconduct, which seeks to understand student perception of sexual assault, harassment, relationship violence and stalking.

Gaslevic said responses to the survey will inform the University’s evaluation of its sexual assault policy.

“We are continually assessing policies, programs, and ongoing education needed to reduce sexual assault,” she wrote. “The University will guide its future sexual assault prevention and education plans based on the information received from the survey.”

Gaslevic wrote that the University will be collecting student responses to the survey until March 23.

“It’s on all of us at Hopkins to work together to make our community the best it can be,” she wrote. “OIE looks forward to working with the community to shape future sexual misconduct prevention.”