UT HOSTS PUBLIC FORUM ON ‘SEXUAL MISCONDUCT’ POLICIES

  

Students at the University of Texas spent over an hour and a half airing grievances about sexual misconduct policies, Monday night.

The forum with University leaders was held in response to months of students calling for changes to how the university handles professors who violate sexual misconduct policies.

According to The Austin American Statesman, dozens of students addressed the panel, which included UT President Gregory L. Fenves.

Though students have met with administrators numerous times over the past three months, many expressed concerns over what they called ‘an attitude of indifference and appeasement’ among university leaders.

Many of the questions Monday night addressed what they consider as the school’s lenient treatment of professors who have been found in violation of sexual misconduct.

Much of last semester’s outrage centered on the fact that several professors who had been sanctioned in the past were still teaching.

Students asked the administrators why those faculty members were still allowed to teach, why students aren’t immediately informed about professors’ violations, and how the school decides which violation merits which sanction.

Throughout the night, students demanded more empathy and response from all the panelists.

Administrators said they have an agenda of items to talk through with students, and hope to have recommendations by spring break.