Office for Civil Rights to Conduct Focus Groups April 8 & 9

Campus sexual violence is an important issue that Frostburg State University takes very seriously. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is currently reviewing the University’s policies and practices related to Title IX of the Education Amendment Acts of 1972, which is the federal law that prohibits sexual harassment and sexual violence.

Representatives from OCR will be on campus on Tuesday, April 8, and Wednesday, April 9, to conduct focus group sessions in conversation with the campus community on issues related to sexual harassment and sexual violence. OCR will also be available to speak privately with anyone regarding these issues, or to anyone who is a survivor of sexual violence or sexual harassment who may wish to speak with OCR.

All sessions will be held in Lane University Center 111. The schedule of the focus groups is as follows:

Tuesday, April 8

10 a.m.:   Resident assistants

11 a.m.:   FSU staff

1 p.m.:     FSU faculty

2 p.m.:     Student Government Association and campus leaders

3 p.m.:     Staff, faculty and students participating in FSU organizations that address issues of importance to women

4 p.m.:     Individual Meetings with OCR.  Please call an OCR representative at the number below to schedule a private meeting.  Walk-ins are also welcome.

Wednesday, April 9

10 a.m.:   Student-athletes

11 a.m.:   Members of fraternities

1 p.m.:     Members of sororities

2 p.m.:     Individual meetings with OCR .  Please call an OCR representative at the number below to schedule a private meeting.  Walk-ins are also welcome.

OCR has asked the University to inform individuals attending focus groups and meetings that it keeps records of its contacts, which are considered public records and are therefore subject to public disclosure laws, but any identifying information in these records is redacted or removed before release.

If you are unable to come to a focus group or to a private meeting with OCR while they are on campus, the following OCR staff who will be visiting the campus are also available on an ongoing basis before and after their visit to speak with you during their normal business hours.  Please feel free to call or e-mail them.

Amy Niedzalkoski, Attorney

Amy.Niedzalkoski@ed.gov.

(215) 656-8571

Beth Gellman-Beer, Supervisory Attorney

beth.gellman-beer@ed.gov

(215) 656-6935