Whose Campus?
Sexual Violence in Canadian Universities
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Shirin Abdmolaei
The oppression of sexual violence in Canada is deeply interconnected with the violence of racism, sexism, and socioeconomic inequalities, which are reinforced and sustained through social institutions and structures. This paper discusses how social categories not only make women of colour more susceptible to sexual violence on campus, but it seeks to demonstrate how violence is perpetuated against them in the aftermath of their experiences. The choice to speak or to remain silent about their experiences tells us much about the institutional and structural forms of violence that universities, the criminal justice system, as well as liberal discourses of Canadian multiculturalism, perpetuate against women of colour. Through in-depth interviews with women of colour who have experienced sexual violence on campus, this paper highlights the complexities of sexual violence by focusing on social categories and institutional and structural violence in an attempt to challenge static and one-dimensional approaches to sexual violence against women.
Senior Executive Leadership Succession Planning and Management: With Implications for Underrepresented Minorities
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session LeKeisha Jackson
Guided by the research questions, this study utilized a sequential explanatory mixed methods research design to examine senior executive leadership succession planning at four-year, predominately white, doctoral universities in the state of Georgia. Utilizing the Representative Bureaucracy theory and the Mateso SPM conceptual model,this study employed a pragmatic epistemology coupled with the critical inquiry to collect and analyze data. This study explores succession planning and management of senior executive leadership by examining the SPM practices and processes surrounding the nomination of successors, with implications for diversifying senior executive leadership. Included in this study is an extensive literature review including the following: Leadership crisis in higher education, historical perspectives, diversity in higher education, diversity management, succession planning, succession planning and management, ending with succession planning and management theoretical consideration. This research study explored the effectiveness of SPM practices at the institutional and divisional levels at four subject universities. Associated factors and perceptions were examined to identify patterns that facilitate an inclusive leadership environment. The study employed an explanatory mixed methods research design as suggested by Creswell (2015). Data findings are summarized in the following categories: Unit Driven Informal Practices (SPM Practices), Professional Development (leadership commitment), Decentralized organization (organizational culture), and Diversity management and various factors.
Campus Diversity, Title IX, and Evidentiary Standards
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Scott Henderson
This paper focuses on a contentious element in Title IX enforcement--the adoption by colleges/universities of a "preponderance of evidence" standard (versus a "reasonable doubt" standard) when adjudicating sexual misconduct cases. The educational experience on college campuses is enriched by a diverse faculty, staff, and student body. Such diversity enhances academic/co-curricular performance and fosters a celebration of difference. To promote diversity, institutions of higher learning must insure the safety and well-being of all members of the campus community. One way to achieve this goal is by enforcing Title IX of the U.S. Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX requires that educational institutions maintain an environment free from sexual discrimination. In its broadest formulation, this type of discrimination includes sexual misconduct related to gender, gender identity/expression, and sexual orientation. This paper includes a review and critical analysis of nascent case law, emergent policies, and current litigation pertaining to Title IX evidentiary standards. The aforementioned review and analysis indicate that the preponderance of evidence standard should be kept. In order to safeguard efforts to promote diversity of gender, gender identity/expression, and sexual orientation, institutions of higher learning will need to refute objections to the preponderance of evidence standard.
