Harvard creates new sexual assault policy

Harvard Yard in Cambridge (file photo)

This week Harvard became the first of the 67 schools being investigated by the Department of Education to change its sexual assault policies and procedures.

Under the policy, Harvard is establishing a new investigative office – The Office for Sexual and Gender-Based Dispute Resolution (ODR) – which will handle sexual assault cases and determine whether or not the school’s new policies are being upheld within these cases.

The new policy states that “Harvard University is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy educational and work environment in which no member of the University community is, on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity, excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination in any University program or activity.”

Harvard began developing these changes in March 2013 when the school became the first University to hire a Title IX officer. Two months later, the university appointed a group of officials to create the newly released policies.

The Title IX officer, Mia Karvonides, said in an interview that “… the new policy looks at the whole array of sexual harassment — from one severe incident like a rape to persistent or pervasive harassment. And we’re looking at it as a community, how it impacts all members of one community.”

These procedures were sent to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights for approval this April, but the school has not received a response yet. The changes will go into effect this fall. USA Today