Once again, The Jewish Daily Forward attempted to throw YU under public scrutiny over erroneous scandal.
The newspaper published an article detailing the single reported instance of sexual abuse on Yeshiva University campuses in over ten years. Published on October 1st, the 2013 annual crime report survey reported by Yeshiva University recorded that the sole incident occurred on the campus of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx. The article implied that the low reported figures over the years were likely to be indicative of other unreported cases of assault that the university failed to include in the report.
The Jewish Daily Forward claimed to not be able to get in contact with Don Sommers, Chief of Security at Yeshiva University, and concluded a questionable lack of transparency on the matter.
However, upon my first attempt to contact Sommers, he was open and freely discussed security procedure, the annual crime survey, and university policy.
Sommers stressed that any allegation, even those that do not ultimately turn into a formal report, “are taken tremendously serious and reported in the statistics of the annual survey.”
The Chief of Security also emphasized that a detailed outline of procedure in event of crime on campus is online and emailed to all students. Sommers further stated that having the procedures online is “the best way for students to know what to do. Everyone should be reading it. It is mandatory that each student is told about it at orientation.”
Dr. Chaim Nissel, University Dean of Student, dismissed the false speculations. Dr. Nissel stated that he believes the figures reported in the annual crime survey to be accurate.
Dr. Nissel asserted, “I believe the numbers reported are 100% accurate based on what is reported. Security collects data from all over YU and must report on various crime stats annually. If you look at the YU annual security reports you’ll see this includes sexual assault as well as burglary and other crimes.”
In a blatant attempt to stir controversy when none in fact appears to exist, the article in The Jewish Daily Forward prefaced its accusations by stating that such lack of transparency in assault reporting is in congruence with YU’s other previous attempt to cover up sexual assault on campus: The infamous $680 million lawsuit brought by former students of YU’s high school for boys.
The article related a possible cover-up to the fifty-five other universities under investigation by the Department of Education for failing to report all instances of sexual assault on campus.
As for the small number of reported sexual assault cases on campus in the years prior to the 2013 report, Dr. Nissel identifies the single-sex campuses and strict rules regarding conduct upheld on YU’s residential campuses as the explanation. Dr. Nissel commented, “Having the vast majority of students being strictly orthodox along with separate campuses, no coed dorms, a strong security presence and a no alcohol policy on campus all contribute to the safe environment on campus.”
Sommers agrees with Dr. Nissel, but with an added precaution, “The student body is different here than at other universities, I am proud of it. We should all be proud of what we have here. I credit the students and the staff.”
Sommers adamantly continued, “Nonetheless, we always have to be on guard. I don’t stand for anything”
That being said, the article does raise a very important issue: Whether or not students feel comfortable coming forth in event of an assault. I do believe that there is not nearly enough dialogue on campus regarding sexual assault and many students may not even know how to properly identify whether such an event has occurred. The procedures may be online, but who’s checking the YU website after a case of assault?
Addressing the lack of open dialogue on sexual assault is a critical issue on campus, but one that should not be conflated with suspicions from a security and procedural standpoint.
The article clearly demonstrates that YU is under the watchful (and critical) eye of the Jewish community. The institution has nothing to gain by withholding such information, and as we saw by last year’s settled lawsuit, everything to lose.
Although at first glance The Jewish Daily Forward’s article raises suspicions regarding shoddy security on campus and hazy procedures in the case of an assault, the article is all but a falsified jab at YU’s integrity.
So, why all the lies? I guess the financial crises got boring.