W. Scott Lewis, J.D. comments on the intersection of threat management and social media

NCHERM Group Partner W. Scott Lewis, J.D. was quoted in "Posting a Threat" in an October 2012 University Business article. The piece highlights how colleges and universities can act on social media cues effectively.

Saunie Schuster, Esq. discusses recent "wake-up calls" in Diverse Issues in Higher Education

Saunie Schuster, Esq., Partner at The NCHERM Group, was interviewed in "Organizations Work to Raise Awareness to Prevent Rape," in Diverse Issues in Higher Education. Schuster commented on what was describe as the vortex of wake-up calls to campus officials by saying, “The fact that the OCR began doing voluntary compliance reviews and not merely responding to a complaint communicated to schools that they were serious about the enforcement of the Title IX Guidance.”

Saunie Schuster, Esq. comments on the most recent Dear Colleague Letter

Saunie Schuster, Esq., Partner at The NCHERM Group, is quoted in an article by Campus Safety Magazine that discusses the implications the new Dear Colleague Letter has on K12 schools. Schuster comments that the new letter encourages K-12 schools to take a broader view that expands beyond discrimination to address sexual violence and is another step on the part of the Department of Education to reinforce that they are on the same page as the Department of Justice in promoting and supporting sexual violence reduction efforts.

Review by The NCHERM Group referenced in AP article

Last year The NCHERM Group conducted a review of policies and protocols at the University of Northern Iowa, finding several shortcomings in how sexual misconduct complaints were handled, including that students did not know how to report assault and were given confusing information when they tried to find out. The review was referenced in a recent article by the Associated Press discussing the institution's decision to settle with a former University of Northern Iowa student who claimed administrators treated her poorly after she was sexually assaulted by football players in 2004. 

Daniel Swinton, J.D., Ed.D. comments on pending student-run Honor Court case at UNC

Daniel Swinton, J.D., Ed.D., Senior Executive Vice President at The NCHERM Group, comments on the pending Honor Court case at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In Inside Higher Ed's Slaying the messenger?, Swinton is quoted as saying, "I think that they're trading on very, very thin ice... An institution that seeks to sanction a student for speaking out runs the risk of engaging in retaliation, which would be a violation of Title IX."

Daniel Swinton, J.D., Ed.D. comments on the impact of sexual misconduct on the practice of student expulsion

The Oklahoman quoted Daniel Swinton, J.D., Ed.D., Senior Executive Vice President at The NCHERM Group, in an article that explores the impact of sexual misconduct and other student conduct issues on the practice of student expulsion. Swinton comments that cases wherein a student is found responsible for several counts of sexual misconduct would generally be grounds for the university to expel that student permanently: "I think expulsion is probably warranted even with one incident," he said. "I'm not sure what it would take to get expelled if they're not expelled for that." 

Brian Van Brunt, Ed.D. comments on bullying in college environments

Brian Van Brunt, Ed.D., Senior Vice President for Professional Program Development at The NCHERM Group, is quoted extensively in Grown-up bullying, the final article in a two-part series examining the culture of bullying at various stages throughout the life span. In the article, Van Brunt says, “It can come as a surprise to some when the cruelty, cliques and popularity contests of high school are now propagated into the college classroom and dormitories... Some may also be disappointed that these kinds of behaviors continue in an academic setting where the pursuit of knowledge and the preparation for a future career should be the focus of students’ attention. There can be an anger and resentment from other students, faculty and staff when they are placed in a position of witnessing bullying behavior or are required to stop their own academic pursuits and jobs to deal with a problem they thought most people should have outgrown by this stage of their lives.” Van Brunt is the author of Ending Campus Violence: New Approaches to Prevention, which was published by Routledge in 2012.