Anti-sexual assault student activists expressed concerns about the process behind Harvard s decision to merge its Title IX Office and the Office of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response.
Harvard announced on March 24 it will join the two offices under a new Office for Gender Equity. University Provost Alan M. Garber â76 wrote in an email to Harvard affiliates that plans for the new office and the dissolution of OSAPR emerged after âthoughtful comments from many students, postdoctoral fellows, staff, and faculty.â
In an article published in the Harvard Gazette, University Title IX Coordinator Nicole M. Merhill â who will helm the OGE â said input from student organizations, including anti-sexual assault advocacy group Our Harvard Can Do Better, was a factor in the Universityâs decision to merge existing offices.
She believes that confusion about the logistical aspects of Title IX could deter reporting in and of itself, pointing out that more students might seek supportive measures if they knew they could do so without starting a formal investigation.
Another misconception of Title IX is the tendency to view it as a criminal process. In actuality, Title IX is meant to ensure that sexual misconduct and gender-based discrimation do not prevent any student from fully participating in their education. Ryan points out that, âat the end of a Title IX proceeding, no oneâs going to jail. No oneâs going to prison, right? Itâs really about access to education, and thatâs why itâs so important.â