Guam group tackles sexual harassment on campus

The Guam Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence, a non-profit organization in Guam, met Wednesday with representatives of college campuses on- and off-island to discuss policies and procedures governing on-campus sexual assault.

Executive director Cynthia Cabot said that about 10 campus representatives, including students, attended Day 1 of the two-day meeting.

“We are here to look at policies and procedures that are in place to address sexual assault on campus,” said Cabot.

At least four campuses in Guam, two campuses on Saipan, and even campuses in American Samoa, Palau, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia are taking part in the awareness activity.

Citing national statistics, Cabot said there is great concern that college-age students, typically between 18 and 24, are at a higher risk for sexual assault.

“We want to make sure that our campuses are ready and have policies, procedures, and programs in place to support students,” said Cabot. “We are recognizing that each college campus is different. Most campuses have a one-liner that encompasses a generic policy that says sexual harassment would not be tolerated. Oftentimes, it is not enough,” she said.

Northern Marianas College dean of Student Services Leo Pangelinan said that NMC has had its share of reported sexual harassment.

“We have procedures for handling such reports and to adjudicate it, including allowing students to go as far as a hearing on the matter,” he said.

Pangelinan also assured that there are policies and procedures in place at NMC, and that NMC’s involvement with the GCASAFV is designed to strengthen their policies and procedures, not just to comply with federal law and regulations but also to address different groups of people in college.

“Policies and procedures that work for different groups in the college, such as staff, faculty, or people who have a contractual relationship with NMC, or even visitors, etc.,” said Pangelinan.

“We have a victims’ advocate to advocate for victims and to support them in any way they need to be supported,” he added.

Northern Marianas Trades Institute director of student development and human resources Victor Mesta said that NMTI’s goal is to bring NMTI up to par with the other campuses.

“We are taking a look at developing policies and procedures for protecting our students in the campus. Since [NMTI] is newly developed, we just want to make sure the NMTI is streamlined with everything,” he said.

The second day of the meeting was held yesterday at the NMC campus before moving on to the NMTI campus later in the afternoon.