The recent hiring of official Title IX coordinator, Brian Mistler, is just one in a chain of changes that are a part of the New College’s policy adjustments after the White House’s issue of their report on rape and sexual assault this January.

Title IX was originally implemented in 1972 to prevent sex-based discrimination in educational programs and activities that are funded by the federal government, however the policy also regulates programs at educational institutions that regard campus rape and sexual assault.

In an open meeting on March 12 Mistler, other school officials, and students met to discuss the changes that need to be made regarding Title IX on the New College campus. According to reworked requirements of the Title IX policies, information about for victims of assault about reporting and receiving counseling should available from the school’s website landing page in no less than two clicks; it is currently through a network of six clicks that the required information is available.

Teaching faculty that were present at the meeting had concerns about how the changes to New College’s Title IX policies would affect the classroom. With the regulatory changes, the positions of “mandatory reporters” of sexual assault – school officials that are required to report if they are informed about an instance of assault – are becoming more defined.

To help students become more aware of the nuances of the policy changes, NCSA President Cassandra Corado is working on a Title IX rights card for the student body in light of the recent Title IX changes. The card is set to include a basic summary of the duties of campus officials regarding Title IX as well as a summary of students’ rights in light of Title IX.

For more information about reporting assault visit ncf.edu/police.