Sexual-assault victims on OU’s campus have a longer time to report an incident after the OU Board of Regents extended the crime’s statute of limitations Thursday during the board’s May meeting.
Students now have 365 days to report a sexual-assault incident instead of 30, according to the board’s agenda. The policy's original wording unintentionally put a 30-day deadline on reporting an incident, President David Boren said. This change clarifies the policy and provides students with enough time to report an incident, Boren said
“In our whole society ... we tend to avoid candid conversation about sensitive subjects like this,” Boren said. “Those that suffer sexual assault need to know that the university is a place where they can bring forward their concerns, their need for help, their need for discussion without worry and without embarrassment.”
The change to the sexual-assault policy also modifies the punishment for offenders. If a student commits an act of sexual assault, the penalty of expulsion and suspension are now viable punishments, according to the meeting’s agenda.
Although it wasn't listed on the agenda, the university will make more changes to how it handles sexual-assault cases, Boren said.
A committee of students and faculty has been assembled to look into further changes, Boren said. OU already is looking into providing further training for OUPD regarding sexual-assault cases and a training orientation similar to the alcohol training given to freshman students, Boren said. The latter would teach students what constitutes sexual assault and situations to avoid.
Acceptable changes created by the committee will be put on the next regent's meeting agenda, Boren said. The committee will complete its investigation in September.
The decision to change the policy occurred after social sciences and women’s and gender studies sophomore Jordan Ward submitted a guest column Feb. 11 to The Daily. In her column, Ward asked university officials to examine the sexual-assault policy after she had difficulty reporting she was raped at a fraternity party. Specifically, Ward asked for a longer statute of limitations and better training for OUPD officers. The column opened up a dialogue between Ward and OU's administration even before Boren officially announced the changes, according to Daily archives.
OTHER BUSINESS
The regents also approved the seven-year contract of men’s basketball coach Lon Kruger during their meeting.
Kruger will be paid $2 million after his first year, according to an agenda item passed out during the meeting. Kruger will receive a base salary of $250,000, additional and outside income of $1,450,000 and annual stay benefit of $300,000 that will be given May 1, 2012. Kruger also receives performance bonuses including a $175,000 bonus if the basketball team wins the NCAA National Championship. Kruger will receive $100,000 as additional compensation each year that he stays under contract starting July 1, 2012.
The regent’s also approved a $500,000 payment to the University of Nevada Las Vegas’ to satisfy a requirement in Kruger’s contract if the coach left the school before his contract was up.
Additional business included a resolution naming the new College of International Studies after Boren — which will take affect after Boren retires — honoring College of Education Dean Joan Smith with the OU Regents’ Professorship and approving renovations across campus. The regents also approved personnel actions regarding retirements, resignations, tenure and increases in salary for faculty and staff.
The regents approved every agenda item from Rogers State University, Cameron University and OU unanimously. The regents’ next meeting will be June 20 in Ardmore.
LINK: • To view the OU Board of Regents' May meeting agenda, click here and select the May 2011 agenda.
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MichaelPWright 1 year ago
Boren looks for glory in all the wrong places. Naming a College after your self is in bad taste, I encourage OU graduates to boo the tyrant Boren during the 'Bombs over Baghdad' commencement ceremony.