and nationally to discuss the issue 
of sexual assault on campuses in 
conjunction with a screening of 
“The Hunting Ground” on campus.

The documentary follows two 

survivors of sexual assault at the 
University 
of 
North 
Carolina 

through their process of reporting 
their assaults.

“ ‘The Hunting Ground’ is a very 

powerful film, it has an incredible 
message, but we want people to also 
know that they can connect with 
organizations, like the national 
Sexual Assault Prevention and 
Awareness Center and the It’s On 
Us campaign, to be involved in a 
part of a larger movement to create 
change,” Palumbo said.

During the call, Ziering said 

the issue of sexual misconduct on 
campus can sometimes become 
convoluted due to misperceptions 
of how many reports are false. She 
said only 4 to 8 percent of reports 
are not true.

“It’s not as complicated or gray 

or hard to figure out what exactly 
went on as the culture or public 
perception would have you believe,” 
she said.

The 
University 
is 
currently 

under investigation by the U.S. 
Department of Education over its 
handling of sexual misconduct.

Dick said campus leaders have 

the ability to make the issue of 
sexual misconduct on campus a top 
priority.

“I would like to see, since it is 

Sexual Assault Awareness Month, 
college presidents present at the 
number of activities going on, and 
speaking very forcefully about 
how important this is, to them 
personally, but also how important 
it is for all the students,” Dick said.

Palumbo echoed his sentiment, 

stressing 
the 
role 
university 

administrations play in setting the 
tone for a community-wide effort to 
prevent campus misconduct.

“College campus administrators 

have the responsibility and ability 
to really set the tone for prevention 

on campus,” she said. “When they 
show institutional commitment, it 
reflects good leadership, it sets the 
tone for all of the accountability 
measures on campus, and sends a 
message of the significance of the 
campus’ sexual assault prevention 
and response effort.”

Rider-Milkovich 
said 
the 

University’s priority is promoting 
verbal, 
sober 
and 
enthusiastic 

consent before having sex.

She 
added 
that 
though 

the 
conversations 
regarding 

enthusiastic 
consent 
may 
be 

awkward at first, the University 
is 
committed 
to 
shifting 
the 

culture around consent through 
programs such as AlcoholEdu and 
Relationship Remix.

“I think it’s really valuable that 

these 
programs 
are 
providing 

the evidence that students can 
understand why it’s so critical, 
and have good role models on how 
to have those conversations, how 
proactive sober consent doesn’t have 
to be awkward or uncomfortable. 
It can be a natural part of that 
relationship’s 
progression,” 

Winchell-Caldwell said.

A 
Michigan 
Daily 
report 

published Wednesday pointed to 
discrepancies between the definition 
of consent taught to students by 
SAPAC and the definition applied 
in University disciplinary processes. 
While SAPAC says silence and body 
language do not satisfy consent, the 
University’s 
Sexual 
Misconduct 

Policy defines consent as “Clear and 
unambiguous agreement, expressed 
in mutually understandable words 
or actions, to engage in a particular 
activity.”

“I am very excited that ‘The 

Hunting Ground’ is coming to the 
University of Michigan, that we 
are a campus and community that 
is not fearful of having difficult 
conversations,” 
Rider-Milkovich 

said. “I think it is important to have 
difficult conversations in order for 
us to really get to the heart of this 
issue.”

Ruza said as a student she 

appreciated the efforts of those 
working in administration and on a 
national level who devote their time 

to making a culture shift around the 
topic of college sexual misconduct.

“For me as a student, it was really 

great to hear the perspectives of the 
folks who created ‘The Hunting 
Ground,’ as well as the other experts on 
the panel who do this work every day.”

The screening of “The Hunting 

Ground” at Rackham Amphitheatre 
Thursday night also featured a 
panel discussion with Milkovich, 
Annie Clark and Andrea Pino, the 
main subjects of the film, Paul 
Blavin, a ‘96 University alum and 
executive producer of the film, 
Margie Pillsbury, a Department of 
Public Safety and Security officer 
and head of the new Special Victims 
Unit, and Anna Forringer-Beal, 
networking, publicity and activism 
program co-coordinator of SAPAC.

The 
event 
attracted 
many 

students, faculty members and 
parents, with the amphitheatre 
completely full and people sitting in 
the aisles.

Clark told the crowd that at the 

end of the day, decisive steps have to 
be taken in response to the issue of 
sexual assault on college campuses.

“Even though some schools have 

really great policies, they still have 
zero expulsions, and I think until 
we start changing that number 
— until we have higher numbers 
of reporters, higher numbers of 
students 
actually 
being 
found 

responsible — it’s going to be very 
hard for us to change this problem” 
she said.

Pillsbury said she was hopeful 

that reporting would increase now 
that the SVU — a unit with officers 
trained to investigate crimes such as 
sexual assault and domestic abuse 
— is in place.

“Many times we don’t end up 

getting the justice (the survivors) 
want, but I really applaud their 
courage, and we do everything we 
can to show them that we believe 
them, and what their options are 
moving forward in the justice 
system,” she said. “I’m excited about 
the new SVU and hoping that the 
University will begin to make more 
reports to the police department.”

Daily 
Staff 
Reporter 
Lara 

Moehlman contributed to this report.

3-News

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
News
Friday, April 10, 2015 — 3

about 
it,” 
Diljak 
said. 
“Diet 

and exercise are really, really 
important, but they aren’t cures for 
everyone.”

Low said he believes scientific 

advances such as this one have 

helped transform the field of weight 
regulation in past years, removing 
common misconceptions about 
weight such as the idea that 
obesity is caused by a lack of self-
control.

“We think now that the 

propensity to become overweight 
is partly in our genes and is 
certainly exacerbated by the 

availability of cheap calories and 
reduced exercise,” he said. “So 
it’s a combination of many things, 
but we know the genetic part is 
there and we also know that these 
POMC neurons are just one part 
of a very complicated system in 
the brain.”

AWARENESS
From Page 1

student’s experience with sexual 
misconduct. In some sections, the 
survey asks for detailed accounts 
of one’s experience if they had been 
assaulted, and suggests scenarios 
that could have happened. If the 
respondent answers affirmativly, 
the survey then asks questions 
regarding how many times the 
assault occurred and of what 
relation the perpetrator was to the 
respondent. The survey also asks 
about drug and alcohol use during 
the time of possible instances of 
sexual misconduct.

A FAQ regarding the survey 

written by the University’s Office of 
Public Affairs says the survey asked 
about sensitive topics to foster a 
safe environment.

“It is only by directly collecting 

this information from students 
will we be able to prevent negative 
experiences 
and 
effectively 

respond when they do happen,” the 
FAQ says.

The survey begins with a 

disclaimer that reads, “Some of 
the language used in this survey is 
explicit and some people may find 
it uncomfortable, but it is important 
that we ask the questions in this 
way so that you are clear what we 
mean. Information on how to get 
help, if you need it, appears on the 
bottom of each page and at the end 
of the survey.”

However, Diaz believes the 

trigger warning included in the 
survey was not enough, and 
said the survey data is skewed 
and ineffective when it cannot 
include the voice and experiences 
of survivors who may not feel 
comfortable taking the survey.

“I think it is bringing a huge 

divide among administration and 
survivors, because it is blatantly 
disrespectful and very triggering to 
us,” she said.

In 
a 
statement, 
University 

spokesman Rick Fitzgerald said 
national experts on the topic of 
campus sexual assault, as well 
as experts in survey design and 
methodology, helped craft AAU 
survey questions

“Some of the language used in 

the AAU survey is explicit and some 
may find it uncomfortable, but it is 
important that the questions are 
posed in this way so that students 
are clear about the meaning, and 
to collect the best possible data,” he 
wrote in a statement.

Fitzgerald stated the University 

had no input in the exact language 
the survey used, yet chose to 
administer the survey to gather 

data to promote a “healthy, safe and 
non discriminatory” environment. 
He also stated each page contains 
support resources and information 
to get help.

LSA senior Hannah Crisler, 

director of the I Will campaign, 
said she also felt uncomfortable 
with the questions. Crisler said 
the graphic content and explicit 
descriptions were unwarranted 
without appropriate warning.

She particularly felt by titling the 

survey one on “campus climate,” 
as she said it made the survey 
ambiguous and did not provide 
an adequate representation to the 
survey takers.

“I think that if someone is going 

to take that survey, it’s definitely 
triggering,” she said. “If something 
did happen to you and you are 
truthfully answering the survey, 
then you are reopening a wound 
that was not explicitly chosen 
before hand.”

Crisler said she began to take the 

survey, but stopped due to anxiety.

LSA junior Connie Gao, president 

for the University’s Students for 
Choice chapter, said she disliked 
the experience of taking the survey 
as well.

Gao said she felt specifically 

asking about each separate instance 
of an individual’s experience with 
sexual assault is not necessarily 
addressing campus climate.

“There could have been ways 

to administer the survey that did 
more adequately address campus 
climate,” she said.

LSA junior Anna Forringer-Beal, 

SAPAC 
student 
co-coordinator, 

said she understands how students 
would feel triggered by the explicit 
questions, but said she believes 
the survey is an important step in 
gathering data on the issue. She said 
the explicit language was necessary 
to get the most precise information.

“It’s difficult for me, speaking 

individually, because I always 
want to put the survivor first, but 
I know as somebody who does 
social science research, a lot of 
people won’t listen to you unless 
you have the numbers to back it up,” 
Forringer-Beal said.

However, she said she would 

have liked to see the trigger 
warning made more clear and 
explicit before the survey.

Diaz echoed Forringer-Beal’s 

sentiment, saying she believed the 
University was right to seek out 
ways to gather more information 
on campus sexual assault, though 
she did not like how the survey 
was potentially inaccessible to 
survivors.

“I think it raises awareness of 

some sort, and then it also says that 
the University is taking it seriously, 
but I think it’s all very surface 
level,” she said.

SURVEY
From Page 1

sider amendments.”

In Harper’s e-mail, she wrote 

that opportunities for commu-
nity input will be available from 
April 2015 until Nov. 2, 2015. The 
SRAC must receive all of the final-
ized amendment proposals by the 
end of this period. The committee 
will then conduct a formal review 
from November 2015 through 
January 2016.

The Office of Student Conflict 

Resolution held the first commu-
nity dialogue on the statement on 
Thursday in collaboration with 
Central Student Government and 
Trotter Multicultural Center.

Though the event was open to 

all students, only current Business 
graduate student Michael Proppe, 

former CSG president, attended 
the event. Clyde Barnett III, CSG’s 
program manager and adviser, 
also attended the dialogue, along 
with OSCR personnel.

Shana Schoem, the program 

specialist at OSCR, and Stacy 
Vander Velde, the associate direc-
tor at OSCR, led the discussion.

OSCR plans to hold more com-

munity dialogues in September.

“There are definitely things 

that we’ve heard already, but we 
haven’t had the chance to hear 
too much from students,” Schoem 
said. “Hopefully, that’s what (the 
dialogues) are for and we’ll see 
more people in the fall.”

Before the SRAC forwards 

their amendment recommenda-
tions to the Office of the President 
in March 2016, the Office of the 
Vice President and General Coun-
sel and the Civil Liberties Board 

will also review the proposals.

Final 
decisions 
will 
be 

announced in April 2016 and will 
go into effect on July 1, 2016.

Harper noted in her e-mail that 

CSG, SACUA and the University’s 
administration are the three bod-
ies that can propose amendments.

Fitzgerald said granting these 

three groups the chance to amend 
the statement ensures that faculty, 
students and staff are all repre-
sented throughout the process.

“Typically CSG would have 

someone focused or some group 
focused at looking at the state-
ment,” he said. “But then I think 
it’s important to note that there 
are vehicles for faculty, staff 
and students to initiate possible 
amendments.”

Daily Staff Reporter Tanaz 

Ahmed contributed reporting.

CODE
From Page 1

these different identities.”

Overall, Sudarsan said she 

hopes the performers impact-
ed students with their perfor-
mances and stories.

“Using art is one of those 

most salient ways for people to 
express themselves and be true 

to themselves,” she said. “We 
wanted people to take away 
the motion and the pain that 
the performers have with these 
different identities and the joys 
too.”

College officials in attendance 

highlighted 
several 
programs 

at their institutions focused on 
affordability. Curt Gielow, chief 
campus executive of Concordia 
University in Ann Arbor, talked 
about a new program called the 
Concordia Promise.

The 
Promise 
allows 
high 

school juniors and seniors at cer-
tain Lutheran and Christian high 
schools to take 30 college credits 
from Concordia at $50 per credit 
hour. A typical credit usually costs 
$650, he said.

“If you do that, you’ve essen-

tially paid us $1,500, but you’ve 
earned 30 credits,” he said. “Now, 
if you then come to Concordia in 
Ann Arbor or the Concordia in 
Wisconsin that we’ve partnered 
with, we’ll give you back the 
$1,500 and move you in as a soph-
omore. You in essence have gotten 
the first year of college for free.”

Davon Shakleford, a Washt-

enaw Community College stu-
dent, said he plans to transfer to 
the University but is concerned 
with the affordability of student 
housing.

“If there is a way to make 

affordable student housing more 
accessible to students, that would 
be very helpful,” Shakleford said. 
“The housing around Ann Arbor 
is very expensive.”

Public Policy senior Bobby 

Dishell, Central Student Gov-
ernment president, agreed with 
Shakleford. He said many stu-
dents have to search for housing 
outside Ann Arbor, which makes 
them reliant on public transport 
and means they miss out on cam-
pus life.

“Students aren’t talking about 

the classes, they’re talking about 

the social aspect, being able to 
go to the games, and being part 
of that community,” he said. “It 
leaves out the students who aren’t 
able to afford the social costs at 
Michigan.”

Another issue brought up was 

the cost of books, which Eric Pen-
rose, Eastern Michigan University 
student, called extravagant.

“At some points, I’ve had to go 

to the corner of a book store and 
take a picture of the page I need-
ed just to cover what I needed to 
know because I had no money,” 
Penrose said. “That is a huge issue, 
especially since most students 
spend about $400 a semester on 
books, some even more based on 
their fields.”

LSA 
senior 
Antoinette 

Hemby, who is an out-of-state 
student, said the high cost of 
books often caused her to make 
difficult choices.

“I have the struggle of: am 

I going to buy books, or am I 
going to fly home for Thanks-
giving?” Hemby said.

Gielow said one potential 

solution is for professors to 
create their own textbooks by 
taking pieces from different 
versions and binding them for a 
cheaper price, as some Concor-
dia professors do.

Linda Blakey, vice president 

of student and academic ser-
vices at Washtenaw Community 
College, said they are also try-
ing to reduce costs through col-
laboration.

“Our library services are 

developing online educational 
resources that are free,” Blakey 
said. “They bring their materi-
als together and look at what 
they can have students use.”

Attendees also touched on 

the federal application for stu-
dent aid, FAFSA.

Margaret Rodriguez, senior 

associate director of Financial 
Aid, agreed with several other 
comments calling the FAFSA 
unnecessarily complicated and 
said there are other options 
available to assess students than 
the current, lengthy FAFSA.

“How many times do stu-

dents have to tell you that 
they’re poor?” Rodriguez said. 
“One should be plenty.”

The discussion touched on 

providing 
financial 
literacy 

opportunities to all students, 
addressing the large amount of 
pre-existing debt and alternate 
options for students who can’t 
pay their loans.

In an interview after the 

event with The Michigan Daily, 
Dingell said she hosts the round 
table meetings to become more 
engaged with the topic.

“I know higher education 

affordability is a real issue for 
young people every day,” Ding-
ell said. “It’s an issue that’s mat-
tered to me before I got elected, 
and I’m continuing with that. 
I’m meeting a lot of people who, 
for example, can’t go on to grad-
uate school, so I want to under-
stand the issues. And then, I’m 
a more effective advocate when 
I’m armed with facts.”

She added that Thursday’s 

round table in particular identi-
fied several new potential issues 
for her to look into.

“It 
raises 
awareness 
for 

everybody,” she said. “I really 
want to go through the grants, 
the Pell Grants and see what 
kind of issues they have. I’m 
going to go back and find out 
why some people are saying 
in-person loan counseling is a 
barricade. Why are they say-
ing that? What are the pros and 
what are the cons? That’s what 
I do.”

DINGELL
From Page 1

VOICES
From Page 1

LINK
From 
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