UVA’s big hire to tackle sexual assault is a step backwards

As part of an effort to make UVA a safer place, the University hired Stanford’s ex-Title IX coordinator.

Catherine Criswell Spear will be brought on as Assistant Vice President of Equal Opportunity Programs. At UVA, Spear will essentially be doing the same thing that she did at Stanford, except with wider responsibilities.

Spear’s record does not seem to bode well for a university that is in the national spotlight for its alleged mishandling of cases regarding sexual assault and harassment.

Catherine Criswell (Photo: Linda Cicero/Stanford University)

Spear’s list of accomplishments at Stanford involve:

• Shutting down Stanford’s marching band for a year
• Launching a crackdown on Greek life
• Deepening the fear that many sexual assault witnesses and victims have of coming forward

It was said of Spears, by a fellow Stanford colleague, that she “wants to make a name for herself as an administrator to be taken seriously.” The kind of steps she took in California will definitely get her to be taken seriously – just not in the way she hopes.

The University of Virginia does need to promote safer grounds. There is no doubt that at UVA, and other college campuses across the nation, a change needs to be made in the way sexual assault cases are handled, the way victims and witnesses are cared for, and the monitoring of hazing and other infractions made by organizations on grounds. All these actions need to be taken. However, Spear may not be the woman UVA needs for the job.

Thirty five percent of UVA undergrads are a part of Greek life on campus. This may not be the majority of the student body, but it should be remembered that Spear also tried to get rid of the marching band, which suggests that her fight might not be against Greek life alone, but certain types of social organizations in general.

If Spears eliminated both the Greek system and the marching band, that is a lot of Hoos displaced – and angry. What good will it do to anger so much of the student body in the name of Title IX? Could it cause more harm then good?

‘Title IX Claims Territory at Stanford’ from Je Suis Stanford

Spear’s record seems to suggest that her interpretation of Title IX may lead to investigations that could compromise the safety and comfort of individuals who come forward.

The Office of Equal Opportunity Programs does not need a witness to begin an investigation, such as that looking into SAE at Stanford. Furthermore, Title IX does not require witness or victim compliance or consent to launch an investigation. An administrative body that claims to help protect the witnesses and victims of sexual assault but then does the exact opposite is not the type of “protection” service UVA needs.

Sexual assault and harassment is a vicious crime that should never happen to anyone. However, we do not live in a utopia and it does happen. Those who witness or fall victim to these heinous acts have the right to be protected.

UVA should reconsider the step that it just took backwards in the long journey to safer grounds. There may not be an easy answer to the problem at hand, but the hiring of Spear doesn’t even look like a good first guess.