Quinn, Activists Lead Discussion on Sexual Violence

Former New York City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn joined members of undergraduate advocacy group Our Harvard Can Do Better in detailing goals to modify Harvard’s sexual harassment policies, improve transparency within those changes, and bolster training on the topic for students and administrators.

About fifty Harvard affiliates attended the Institute of Politics and Phillips Brooks House Association sponsored event Thursday evening, which marked the second in a series of discussions called “Let’s Talk Harvard.”

Quinn, who is a resident fellow at the IOP this semester, currently serves as a special adviser to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo focusing on campus sexual assault policies.

Quinn emphasized the importance of culling responses from victims of sexual violence in any instance in which schools modify their sexual harassment policy or procedures.

“If you don't have the survivor’s voice on the table, you’re not really doing the work, because the work is about helping victims become survivors and preventing further acts of violence,” she said.

Participants in the discussion frequently emphasized the role of institutional transparency in both demystifying sexual harassment procedures and revealing the tangible effects of policy modifications.

“There’s this saying which we’ve heard that sunlight is the best disinfectant, so transparency is incredibly important,” Quinn said.

Jessica R. Fournier ’17, an organizer for Our Harvard Can Do Better, criticized what she perceived to be a lack of transparency in the rollout of the University’s central sexual harassment policy and accompanying procedures. Under the new procedures in place in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, a central office leads investigations into cases of sexual harassment, while the College’s Administrative Board handles discipline.

“I think there really hasn't been much of a substantive effort on the part of the administration to actually engage with students,” Fournier said, referring specifically to the Ad Board’s disciplinary procedures.

Fournier and panelist Kathleen S. O'Beirne ’15, who is also an organizer for Our Harvard Can Do Better, reiterated the goal of increasing training for undergraduates on topics of sexual violence, suggesting that the College consider instituting a mandatory four-year program on the issue.

Panelists later responded to questions from audience members, some of whom raised concerns about potential difficulties that activists may face in recruiting additional support, particularly from those who did not attend the event.

“I would not underestimate the significance of having a large, well-informed, empowered choir. Sometimes we think preaching to the choir is useless. It’s not,” Quinn said.

The College is currently under federal investigation over its Title IX compliance following a complaint filed by at least one member of Our Harvard Can Do Better with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights last spring.

—Staff writer Noah J. Delwiche can be reached at noah.delwiche@thecrimson.com. Follow him on Twitter @ndelwiche.