By Lauryn Longacre, Staff Writer
Myths and misconceptions about Title IX on campus were discussed on Oct. 29 at the Center for Diversity and Inclusion’s Let’s Talk.
Susquehanna’s Title IX coordinator, Dena Salerno opened the talk to questions about common misconceptions about the process of Title IX incidences on campus. The Office of Violence Against Women’s coordinator Christiana Paradis was also present to offer information about Title IX as well.
To begin the discussion, junior Jose Martinez Rivera asked about the release of the names of those who have Title IX charges against them. “I just wonder how that comes to be,” Rivera asked, “because I would assume that when the investigation goes on that the police have to keep that information private.”
Salerno said that the information leak is mainly the product of a rumors on campus and that she cannot issue a gag order to those accused or the complainant. She also mentioned that the process the university follows differs from the legal process that the Selinsgrove Police follows.
According to Paradis, although students have the right to go through either process, going through the Selinsgrove Police could result in the information being publicized.
“With the criminal justice system, charges that are filed are public record and often are shared with media sources,” Paradis said.
Senior Amy Green said that she believed the discussion was very informative and offered an open forum for questions students might still have regarding rumors on how assaults on campus are handled.
Green said that getting the information directly from the source (Salerno and Paradis) was good since they have the most information on the subject. Green said that if she oversaw orientation, she would have a session in which Salerno and Paradis would discuss Title IX issues to incoming first-years.
One of the biggest problems Green found with Title IX was the issue of false accusations.
“False accusations tarnish people’s reputations on campus in general,” Green said. “Even if it’s not true [some people] have no choice but to leave campus because they’ve lost all their circles, they have no one else to rely on so then they’re forced out of the university.”
The CDI will host their next Let’s Talk from 11:35 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 5. The discussion for next week will revolve around gun stereotypes. Let’s Talk is open to the public and offers free pizza and water to all who attend.
