MANHATTAN – Administrators at Kansas State University are addressing issues from students after it was confirmed last week that the University is under a federal Title IX investigation.
Two female students filed civil rights lawsuits alleging KSU refused to investigate their rapes at off-campus fraternity houses.
The university administration sent the following communication to students and staff on Thursday.
“We are always working to improve and address issues affecting our university community. There have been many discussions about how and when the university responds to sexual violence.
Some recently published statements and information appearing in the media have included inaccuracies concerning the university’s policy prohibiting discrimination, which includes sexual violence.
These issues are critically important, and we want to be on same page with our students, faculty and staff.
The university would like to respond directly to requests from our students:
The university has been working to clarify our policy language so the university community understands when and where investigations will occur.
We plan to publish current clarifications shortly. We continually work on policy language for clarity and effectiveness.
The university reviews and processes any and all complaints of students who have reported discrimination on or off campus, should they feel a hostile environment or other discrimination exists on campus. Allegations of discrimination include sexual violence.
There are many resources available to help students regardless of the decision whether to file an official report, the applicability of our policies or the outcome of any investigations. University services include the Kansas State University Police Department, Center for Advocacy, Response and Education, support persons available through the Office of Student Life, Counseling Services, Lafene Health Center, Wildcat Walk, and Safe Ride.
Our long-standing practice has been to provide a wide range of accommodations for students, including counseling, tutoring, medical expenses, or a change in residence, class schedule, campus job, or extracurricular activity if needed. We intend to continue these practices and will review our procedures to make sure adequate resources are available.
Current policy calls for investigations to be completed within 60 days if possible. We will continue to follow this policy and make every effort to be timely.
Voluntary training in discrimination and sexual harassment has long been provided to employees at all levels of the university. We have been working to make this training mandatory for faculty and staff.
All persons at the university, including students, are strongly encouraged to report any incidents, so the university can process the allegations in accordance with its policies and help students get to the numerous resources available.
Contact the Office of Institutional Equity if you wish to file a complaint. University faculty and staff are committed to helping all students, maintaining safety, and treating all students fairly and justly.
If you have questions or concerns, please call the Office of Institutional Equity at 785-532-6220.”
Release by University Administration on ksu.edu.
This response comes days after the K-State Interfraternity Council passed a resolution wanting the University to investigate Title IX violations that occur off campus.
The InterFraternity Council resolution states, “Over the past two years members of the IFC Board of Directors and Panhellenic Council Board of Directors have met with University officials requesting a change in policy to allow the Office of Institutional Equity to investigate Title IX violations that occur off campus. These meetings have provided no clear plan of action.
We salute the bravery of victims during this time whose allegations were not fully investigated and adjudicated by the university.
Specifically, the actions of Sara Weckhorst and Tessa Farmer, two students who have filed lawsuits against Kansas State for its refusal to investigate accusations of Title IX violations, including acts of sexual violence, which occurred off campus. Their fight against sexual violence has shed light on a university policy, which has negatively impacted the lives of students for far too long.
As the leaders of our Greek community and in the interest of all students at Kansas State, we are specifically calling on our university to begin investigating allegations of sexual violence off campus.
Students of Kansas State who are victims of sexual assault have not received the care, which should be provided to them by the university. This includes but is not limited to;
• Immediate action by the university to ensure the students can continue their education free of sexual violence or harassment
• Financial accommodations to ensure students receive counseling, tutoring, medical expenses, or a change in residence, class schedule, campus job, or extracurricular activity if needed
• Investigation into the allegation whether it occurred on-campus or off which should be concluded in a 60 day time span
• Training for university employees on how to identify, report, and handle sexual violence
We also recognize the need for additional funding, resources, and staff at the Kansas State CARE Office to better assist survivors of sexual assault, sexual violence, and sex discrimination. We believe that this measure, paired with an additional investigator hired for the Office of Institutional Equity to help with the investigation and adjudication process, would be the best steps toward providing the adequate support required.
As member organizations part of a university which holds Family as its core value we will collectively be taking further steps to educate, train, and prevent sexual assault from happening within our community. While the university does have a mandatory online education program for all students, these additional steps will ensure all members of fraternities are better trained on bystander intervention, consent, and sexual violence awareness.
As members of the K-State family we are committed to End Rape on Campus, and off.