A motion
to extend the duration of suspension for students convicted of a
sexual offense from two semesters to eight semesters narrowly passed
in Appalachian State University’s Faculty Senate meeting Monday
evening with a vote of 8-7-7.
Student Government Association President Ryan M. Eller presented
two pieces of legislation to the Faculty Senate pertaining to the
extension of punishment for convicted rapists and the availability
of rape kits at Student Health Services.
The Student Government Association voted unanimously last year on
both pieces of legislation, but they were rejected by Vice Chancellor
for Student Development Gregory S. Blimling last summer.
“Victims would have a greater sense of security in continuing
their education at Appalachian,” said T. Patrick Rardin, senator
for the Department of Philosophy and Religion.
Currently, students convicted of a sexual offense, which is defined
in the Student Code of Conduct as “rape or molestation,”
are suspended from Appalachian for two semesters. Supporters of
the motion felt suspending the convicted student for eight semesters
would give the victim ample time to graduate from the university
without feeling unsafe in the presence of their attacker.
A rape conviction resulting in suspension from Appalachian can come
from either a state or civil court or from Appalachian’s Department
of Judicial Affairs. Numerous senators showed great dissatisfaction
with the judicial board’s conviction process and questioned
the board’s authority to rule on matters such as rape.
Andrew M. Koch, senator for the Department of Political Science
and Criminal Justice, spoke adamantly against allowing judicial
affairs the power to rule on matters of such importance. Koch said
he is concerned about the rights of the accused and is not comfortable
with rape being a part of their jurisdiction.
“I have no faith that justice comes out of these judicial hearings,”
Koch said.
The motion to make rape kits available at Student Health Services
was more favorable to the Faculty Senate, and it passed by a vote
of 20-2-0.
Unfavorable remarks were made concerning the high cost of the kits
and the extensive training and availability of the health services
staff. Questions were also raised about the quality of an on-campus
facility to administer these extensive tests, and whether or not
a student would be subjected to an inadequate center on campus.
“We’re talking about having something fully comparable
to a professional environment,” said Margaret A. Yaukey, senator
for the Department of Art. “Would we not be encouraging people
to come and use our substandard facility and then compromise the
evidence in court because it was collected in a substandard facility?”
Rape kits cost approximately $300 to administer and take up to six
hours. Currently students are referred to Watauga Medical Center
where the expense of administering the kits ranges anywhere from
$300-$600 and is not covered by students’ health insurance.
“I’m assuming that students would be more encouraged to
go through this six-hour evidence-collecting process by somebody
here on campus than they would at the hospital,” said Stella
E. Anderson, senator for the Department of Management.
If the kits were administered at Appalachian’s Student Health
Services, the university would absorb the cost, which speakers in
favor of the motion said they hope will encourage more victims to
come forward after being raped.
“My thinking is that part of the issue here is to lessen the
burden on the victim,” Rardin said. “The thinking is that
the student should be spared [additional burden] and should be able
to have this done as conveniently as possible. The woman has been
raped presumably on this campus, a campus we’ve encouraged
her to come to. Can we take care of her when she’s been victimized?”
Numerous senators expressed interest in investing the university’s
money into making rape kits available on campus and urged the administration
to create an above-average environment for administering the tests
so as not to damage the evidence or burden the victim. |
