Computer science department hosts workshop on preventing sexual harassment

The computer science department and Center for Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, CSAPR, held a sexual harassment prevention workshop intended to acknowledge the male-dominated computer science field.

The workshop, entitled "In This Together: Understanding and Preventing Sexual Harassment," was held on Jan. 30 in Jepson Hall and was led by Tracy Cassalia, deputy Title IX coordinator for students. 

These routine trainings come at the request of the group hosting the event, which in this case was the computer science department, Cassalia said. 

The department had developed the workshop in order to acknowledge the male-dominated computer science field, promote awareness among male students and propel it to be more inclusive to women  Kathy Hoke, department chair of mathematics and computer science said.

“In the computer science major we strive to promote gender diversity,” Hoke said. “We want to make it more inclusive.” 

The event had been in production since October 2018, but due to scheduling problems was pushed back until January, Hoke said.

During the event, Cassalia discussed the past and present actions that the University of Richmond had taken toward stopping sexual misconduct, as well as prevention information regarding how internships could potentially turn dangerous.

“The purpose of the workshop is to provide students with an understanding of what constitutes sexual harassment and how to report an incident of sexual harassment,”  Cassalia said in an email.

The program was developed by Center for Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, which, along with the Office of Compliance, hosts regular trainings with the campus community to address concerns related to sexual misconduct, sexual harassment and other compliance issues, Cassalia said. 

Cassalia said she hoped that attendees would gain an understanding of what constituted sexual harassment, as well as how to report an issue and the support services available on campus.

If there is suspicion that someone is the victim or initiator of sexual misconduct, there are several things to look out for, said Carl Sorensen, associate vice president of human resources and deputy Title IX coordinator for employees. 

Things to look for include changes in behavior, walking routes and socializing patterns, he said. 

“If you suspect someone is the recipient of harassment of any kind, report it," Sorensen said. 

The university’s policies regarding sexual misconduct can be found on the CSAPR webpage. 

The university categorizes sexual misconduct as a variety of behaviors, including, but not limited to, non-consensual sexual intercourse, non-consensual sexual contact, sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, dating/relationship violence, domestic violence and stalking. Additionally, retaliation against anyone who reports or witnesses misconduct is prohibited.

“If someone experiences harassment or sexual misconduct, we encourage them to report the incident to the university," Cassalia said. "The university is committed to providing support to individuals impacted by sexual misconduct including sexual harassment." 

Student reaction to the event was mixed.

“I’m glad the university is reaching out to students with this information," said Michael Bonifonte, a junior computer science major who attended the event. "I didn’t know previously that Title IX covers you when you’re at internships off campus and even during the summertime. It was a good dialogue to have.”

Sophomore computer science major Ting Chen also attended the workshop and expressed similar feelings, although he displayed dismay at the university’s past handling of sexual misconduct cases.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of sexual misconduct, options for action include filling out the sexual misconduct form , contacting the office of Title IX or calling the ethics and compliance hotline. All can be done anonymously.

Contact news writer Ben Wasserstein at ben.wasserstein.richmond.edu.