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That was a good article from Elizabeth Smart. Although I am sure she is strong in the faith, and probably a traditional believer in most respects, her comment about sitting in class and listening in amazement to people using the “used bubble gum analogy” is very similar to what we experience in faith crisis. You sit in church amazed at what you are hearing, and disagreeing with it. Unlike before the FC when you accepted it without any critical thought. It’s like you are observer of the culture rather than a participant within it.
I think it’s cool that she can openly state her disagreement with the culture. I don’t think anyone would disagree with her, even a GA if pressed.
What’s so discouraging about the Smart article is the comments. Pow, right out of the starting gate, there’s a guy saying, essentially, Well, this can’t be what she’s saying it is. It’s not an “epidemic.” She’s not an expert. What really is the harm of hearing this once or twice in your life? The harm is that young people particularly are impressionable. They often struggle with self-esteem as it is, and often rely on external sources of self-worth like attractiveness, fashion, and other things that in the end, don’t matter nearly as much as inner character. Hearing the conditional side of love AT CHURCH is destructive, and even negates the message of unconditional love that we are supposed to be getting from Christ’s life. That’s what’s wrong with it.
Well it is about time. This went out to students
Quote:From: “Kevin J Worthen” <
univ-comm@byu.edu >Date: Oct 26, 2016 9:43 AM
Subject: Advisory Council Study of Sexual Assault Complete
Dear Students, Staff and Faculty,
Today we are announcing that the Advisory Council on Campus Response to Sexual Assault has completed its study and that the President’s Council has agreed with all the recommendations in the Advisory Council’s report. We are releasing that report today, and I wanted you to be the first to have access to it. I encourage you to read the Advisory Council’s full report, as well as its recommendations.
As the Advisory Council notes, sexual assault is an abhorrent offense that violates sacred doctrines – such as moral agency, the sanctity of the body and the sacred nature of marriage and sexual intimacy – that are central to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Sexual assault cannot and will not be tolerated at BYU.
Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our students. This is particularly true for those who have been the victims of sexual assault. They have been through a devastating experience, and they are looking for our help and support. We have an obligation not only to provide that support, both emotional and spiritual, but also to create an environment where sexual assault is eliminated.
The Advisory Council, led by Vice President Janet S. Scharman, shares that commitment. Its report represents hundreds upon hundreds of hours of work since the council was formed in mid-May. It is thoughtful, thorough, candid and extremely helpful. I am deeply grateful to Vice President Scharman, Vice President Sandra Rogers, Dean Ben Ogles and Dr. Julie Valentine for their commitment to helping us find solutions to this complex and challenging issue.
After reviewing the report and recommendations, the President’s Council has determined to accept all of the 23 recommendations. There are several that we will begin to implement immediately, including the following:
Create a new, full-time Title IX coordinator position to replace the existing part-time Title IX coordinator position.
Create a victim advocate / confidential advisor position.
Create a new, physical space to house the Title IX Office in a location separate from the Honor Code Office.
Ensure that, unless the health or safety of others is at risk, the Title IX Office does not share information with the Honor Code Office about the complainant without the complainant’s consent.
Adopt an amnesty clause.
Because the recommendation regarding amnesty involves a change in policy, the exact contents of this clause need to be reviewed by the Student, Faculty and Administrative Advisory Councils before it becomes official policy. In the meantime, we will operate under the amnesty guidelines recommended in the report.
More information about the report and what this means for BYU is contained at
https://news.byu.edu/title-ixhttps://news.byu.edu/title-ix” class=”bbcode_url”> We do not have all the answers to this problem, which is a nationwide issue affecting all colleges and universities. But this report provides an excellent framework on which to build. Because of the Advisory Council’s extremely valuable work, we are in a much stronger position to help those who have suffered the traumatic effects of sexual assault and to prevent such events in the future. Heightened awareness of the issue by each one of us is itself a step in the right direction. I encourage us all to aid in this important endeavor.
Kevin J Worthen
[Admin Note]: I started a new thread about the change, so it could receive separate attention. I am closing this thread, so we don’t have two concurrent conversations about the exact same topic.
(Thanks for posting the email, LH.)
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