Brian Van Brunt, Ed.D. joins Violence and Gender Editorial Board

The NCHERM Group is proud to announce that Brian Van Brunt, Ed.D., Senior Vice President for Professional Program Development, has joined the Editorial Board of the timely and important new peer-reviewed journal, Violence and Gender. The quarterly, open, in print and online journal will make its debut in late 2013 as the newest of Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., Publisher’s many peer reviewed publications related to cutting edge topics and emerging areas of fundamental research.

Male-perpetrated violence such as the tragedies at the Boston Marathon, Sandy Hook School and Columbine are increasing in their number, nature and impacts. The motives, conditions and circumstances for such behaviors are poorly understood. The purpose of Violence and Gender is to provide comprehensive investigation of the gender basis, root causes and contributing factors of violent acts with the goals of identifying risk factors and early onset behaviors that are red flags for this type of violence. The goal of the Journal will be to better understand, predict and prevent acts of violence through the critical examination of biological, genetic, behavioral, psychological, racial, ethnic and cultural factors as they relate to the gender of perpetrators of violence. Violence and Gender will be a “must-read” information source for all related disciplines impacted and interested in acts of violence.
 
Beginning with its premier issue, Violence and Gender will be available to library and institutional subscribers in 40 countries. Additionally, the content will be free online to 104 developing nations identified by the World Health Organization.

Michelle Issadore, M.Ed. and Daniel C. Swinton, J.D., Ed.D. comment on new OCR guidelines

Michelle Issadore, M.Ed. and Daniel C. Swinton, J.D., Ed.D. comment on new OCR guidelines in Holding Colleges Accountable, a June article in Inside Higher Ed. Issadore makes note that recent changes have been in response to student assembly and that students are becoming more informed about their rights under Title IX and the Clery Act, and they're organizing." Swinton discusses how the principles and approaches outlined in the recent Montana Resolution Agreement are "transferable to many institutions." 

W. Scott Lewis clarifies OCR position in The Atlantic

A recent The Atlantic article (Which Matters More: Reporting Assault or Respecting a Victim's Wishes?) critiques Columbia's "conservative reading of Title IX" and the policy implications that order faculty and staff to report cases of sexual harassment even when the student has pleaded for secrecy. The NCHERM Group Partner W. Scott Lewis clarifies OCR's intended position on mandatory reporting: "the Office of Civil Rights wanted deans, directors, assistant directors, VPs, and provosts to be the 'responsible employees' who must report sexual harassment. These are the people who can do suspensions or no-contact orders, move people from residence halls, or find other solutions to a sexual harassment problem."

Review of Georgetown Title IX case referenced in Inside Higher Ed

A May 2013 article in Inside Higher Ed discusses Otterbein University's recent decision to discontinue using a form that required victims, perpetrators, and witnesses to a sexual assault investigation to "not share information." Students perceived the document to be a nondisclosure agreement and questioned why alleged victims were being told not to discuss their cases. Let's Not Talk About It referenced a review of a 2004 OCR investigation at Georgetown University written by Brett A. Sokolow, Esq., President & CEO of The NCHERM Group. The review explicitly identifies these actions as Clery Act violations: The Clery Act mandates that complainants be told of the outcomes of any sanctions of any hearing based on their complaint of sexual assault. No condition, limitation, or confidentiality requirement may interfere with that mandate.

Behavior intervention team model implemented at NJC with help of NaBITA

An April 2013 news article from the Journal-Advocate celebrates the implementation of a behavioral intervention team at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo. The team presented what they learned at a recent NaBITA training to the institution's Advisory Council. NJC representatives discussed how the NaBITA Threat Assessment Model taught their team to assess students based on risk and distress. Steve Smith, Dean of Student Services, described the approach as "caring… but preventative." 

Brett A. Sokolow, Esq. discusses perceived improvements to "garden variety" sexual assault cases

Brett A. Sokolow, Esq., President & CEO of The NCHERM Group, discussed perceived improvements to "garden variety" sexual assault cases in "Notre Dame University and the complexities of sexual assault cases." He goes on to comment that "the old rules still apply if [the alleged assailant is] a star athlete or student president... Corruption still exists in those cases."

Brett A. Sokolow, Esq. comments on risk management for national fraternities

Brett A. Sokolow, Esq., President & CEO of The NCHERM Group, commented on the lackluster risk management for local and national fraternities in "Frats Worse Than Animal House Fail to Pay for Casualties," a Bloomberg News article. Sokolow describes the intransigence of these organizations: “They want to wash their hands of the problem and say it’s their brothers’ fault, it’s their chapters’ fault. These are million-dollar organizations that sponsor activities that are harmful.”