Title IX Coordinator Comments on Title IX Advancements

As a part of Frostburg State University’s interim policies and procedures regarding Title IX, a Title IX tab on the FSU website will be be available within the next two weeks. According to Title IX coordinator Emily Caputo, the tab will include an anonymous tip line, an online reporting tool, and other resources for victims.

A climate survey was emailed to all students at the end of last semester, but the response rate was not what the Title IX office had expected. “We are still trying to determine the best way to publish [the survey results],” Caputo commented. “One of the reasons that we have yet to publish the raw data is the privacy concerns. The response rate was low enough that I think if we put it out there, it would potentially release private information of the students who did complete the survey.”

New Maryland law mandates that universities administer a climate survey once every two years and report on their findings. Last spring’s survey has served as what Caputo refers to as “a pilot.” Although the response rate was low, Caputo revealed that there was a large percentage of the participating students did not know where to file a report in the event of a sexual assault. This glaring issue was a catalyst to the interim policy changes.

Another change implemented this year was the initiation of a dating violence escalation workshop sponsored by the OneLove foundation. “By the end of the semester, all of the student athletes will have completed the dating violence escalation workshop,” Caputo commented. While the workshop is not open to all students, Caputo hopes to be able to include upperclassmen not associated with on-campus sports in the near future. According to Caputo, in order for the workshop to be open to all students, more students need to volunteer to be facilitators. “The OneLove foundation is very big on having peer facilitators as opposed to having, say, me facilitate the workshop,” she said.

There are currently multiple students from BURG who have expressed interest in being trained as peer facilitators; they will be attending training at the end of September. If any students are interested in training to become a facilitator for these dating violence workshops, please contact Emily Caputo.

Under Maryland law, faculty must be trained on their reporting obligations. Training for Frostburg employees has been delayed because EverFi, the online program provider, doesn’t have the course in final form yet. “We’ll, at the latest, roll it out in November,” Caputo said of the delay. “We are, unfortunately, at the mercy of our vendor for that.”

Faculty training for gender violence issues began years ago with SafeZone, but there have not been any trainings available for the last three semesters. Caputo expressed interest in reopening these trainings as well as potentially opening an advanced training for staff members who wish to be support systems for victims of sexual assault or interpersonal violence, not merely mandated reporters of abuse.

A note to survivors, victims, and intervening bystanders: All of the above measures are being instilled to promote prevention of sexual assault, but if a violation has already occurred, Caputo is trained to handle these reports. While the stories of survivors and victims are always welcomed by The Bottom Line, no reports or accounts will be made public without the specific request of the violated student. Please do not be afraid to report your experience to the Title IX office or seek counseling at CAPS on campus. If you would like your story published, do not hesitate to approach The Bottom Line, but your safety and well-being come first.

Caputo’s office is located in Hitchins room 229. Her phone number is 301-687-3117. Her email is ejcaputo@frostburg.edu. The Counseling and Psychological Services building is located just off the lower quad, and their phone number is 301-687-4234.