Baldwin
Wallace
University
is
establishing
a
new
Campus
Safety
Task
Force
to
continue
to
strengthen
and
improve
campus
safety
policies
and
processes.
"BW
cares
and
is
deeply
committed
to
the
safety
of
each
member
of
our
campus
community,"
said
President
Bob
Helmer.
"Our
goal
is
that
each
and
every
student
feels
safe
and
supported
on
our
campus
and
many
have
affirmed
that
they
do.
However,
if
the
experience
of
just
one
falls
short,
then
we
have
work
to
do."
Seeking
productive
dialogue
At
a
Wednesday,
January
17
campus
forum,
called
by
the
University
to
explore
campus
safety
with
the
BW
community,
President
Helmer
announced
the
formation
of
the
diverse
new
team
to
review
policies
and
processes,
and
to
make
recommendations,
starting
with
the
suggestions
already
brought
forward
by
a
student
group.
The
new
task
force
will
include
students,
faculty,
staff
and
external
experts.
The
forum
gave
about
175
students,
alumni,
faculty
and
staff
the
opportunity
to
learn
about
University
processes
and
resources
that
address
claims
of
sexual
misconduct
and
other
campus
safety
issues.
The
forum
moderator
posed
written
questions,
which
were
provided
in
advance
of
the
forum
by
the
campus
community,
for
response
by
a
panel
of
University
leaders
including
the
President
and
Title
IX
Coordinator.
Those
in
attendance
were
also
given
the
time
to
ask
direct
questions
of
the
panel.
"This
important
conversation
will
not
end
tonight,"
said
President
Helmer.
"Our
aim
is
to
foster
a
strong,
constructive
dialogue
that
deepens
our
understanding
of
issues,
seeks
out
the
best
possible
solutions,
and
builds
mutual
trust."
Taking
proactive
measures
While
the
national
conversation
around
sexual
misconduct
continues
to
grow,
BW
has
already
implemented
a
series
of
measures
to
strengthen
campus
safety
around
the
issue
of
sexual
misconduct
in
recent
years
including,
18-months
ago,
the
adoption
of
new
policies
and
procedures
aimed
at
strengthening
reporting
and
response.
In
addition
to
services
available
through
BW's
own
Counseling
Services
and
Health
Services,
BW
is
two
years
into
a
partnership
with
Cleveland
Rape
Crisis
Center
which
provides
confidential
on-campus
support
that
augments
what
is
already
available
at
BW.
In
recent
years,
the
University
has
organized
a
variety
of
new
programs
and
activities
aimed
at
educating
and
raising
awareness
on
campus.
Training
for
students,
faculty
and
staff
on
sexual
misconduct,
consent
and
bystander
response
are
also
part
of
BW's
updated
prevention
and
response
initiatives.
Community
responsibility
"One
of
the
hallmarks
of
BW
is
our
strong
sense
of
community
and
that
includes
the
way
we
work
together
for
the
betterment
of
all,"
noted
President
Helmer.
"Each
one
of
us
has
a
voice,
a
responsibility
and
a
role
to
play
to
ensure
campus
safety.
I
have
every
confidence
that
positive
outcomes
will
result
as
we
come
together
in
a
thoughtful,
intentional
collaboration."
BW
expects
recommendations
from
the
new
task
force
by
the
end
of
the
spring
semester.
