Tori lemon
Editor-in-Chief
Sunday, Sept. 3 a second alleged sexual assault was reported on the El Dorado campus, not even a month after El Dorado police began investigating an off-campus sexual assault report.
According to a letter sent out by Vice President of Student Services Bill Rinkenbaugh to students explaining the details of the incident that involved a male student and a female who does not attend Butler. In the letter, Rinkenbaugh explains that Butler’s Department of Public Safety was notified by the Wichita Police Department of the alleged incident on the Monday, Sept. 4.
Butler officials also found that the Student Code of Conduct Policy was in fact violated.
“I can tell you that appropriate disciplinary action has been taken against all students associated with the reported Title IX violations,” Rinkenbaugh said.
According to the Student Handbook, if one violates the Student Code of Conduct, they are subject to “probation, suspension, dismissal and expulsion” by college officials. Those officials include the president, vice president, vice president of Academics or the vice president of Student Services or any of their designees. If a student disagrees with the given disciplinary action, he or she has the right to appeal said sanctions.
Prior to the school year starting, there was a rape report involving four Butler students- three males and one female. The investigation began Sunday, Aug. 13 when police were called to the hospital for a rape report. The investigation is still ongoing; however, an internal Title IX investigation was concluded on Wednesday, Aug. 30. The school’s committee determined the college’s Title IX policy was violated and therefore appropriate disciplinary action was taken.
Butler’s Title IX policy is also in the Student Handbook, explaining in detail what acts are considered sexual harassment and violations of the Code of Conduct.
To further explain what Title IX entails, an online Title IX training will launch within the next few weeks for students.
“The training provides a greater understanding of Title IX, ways to address issues that may arise, as well as information on effective bystander intervention strategies,” Rinkenbaugh. “This provides individuals with ideas that they may intervene to prevent a sexual assault from occurring.”
In an effort to increase sexual assault awareness on campus, administration has begun brainstorming different tactics to bring a greater visibility to this issue.
“The Title IX team and the Student Life team has begun conversations on bringing individuals to campus to address this issue,” Rinkenbaugh said. “Additionally, I’m meeting with a number of student groups and addressing sexual harassment and sexual violence and prevention.”
There is a certain process in which investigating a Title IX report that is taken. When a report is made to any employee at the college involving a potential Title IX situation, an investigation begins. The Title IX coordinator, Sherri Conard, will make a decision after all witnesses involved are interviewed and once that decision is made the alleged assaulter will have an opportunity to appeal said decision. If it is found that the student violated the Title IX policy, they will then face appropriate consequences.
“Anytime this type of incident occurs, it increases the level of concerns by others,” Rinkenbaugh said. “I have been at Butler for 26 years. This is the fifth incident of this type that I have dealt with in my career at the college. However, if it happens once, it is too often. Sexual violence and violence against women is never acceptable. If each individual will respect others and their individual rights, these types of incidents will not occur.”
