William Dunlop – The Stanford Daily https://stanforddaily.com Breaking news from the Farm since 1892 Thu, 24 May 2018 08:07:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://stanforddaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/cropped-DailyIcon-CardinalRed.png?w=32 William Dunlop – The Stanford Daily https://stanforddaily.com 32 32 204779320 Stanford Political Union hosts discussion on Title IX policy https://stanforddaily.com/2018/05/24/stanford-political-union-hosts-discussion-on-title-ix-policy/ https://stanforddaily.com/2018/05/24/stanford-political-union-hosts-discussion-on-title-ix-policy/#respond Thu, 24 May 2018 08:07:41 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1141539 On Wednesday, the Stanford Political Union (SPU) held its latest event aimed at putting differing views in dialogue, hosting two professors to discuss current issues with Stanford’s Title IX and other sexual violence policies.

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On Wednesday, the Stanford Political Union (SPU) held its latest event aimed at putting differing views in dialogue, hosting two professors to discuss current issues with Stanford’s Title IX and other sexual violence policies.

The discussion featured psychology professor Jennifer Freyd from the University of Oregon and Professor John Villasenor, a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution. SPU member Jackson Lallas ’19 moderated.

The current policy of mandatory reporting and the lower standard of proof required in University processes compared to criminal cases were chief issues of concern during the discussion.

Stanford Political Union hosts discussion on Title IX policy
(Courtesy of Stanford Political Union)

Mandatory reporting and institutional betrayal

Freyd identified the common policy of mandated reporting as one of the primary areas she felt needs improvement.

At most universities, including Stanford, this policy requires employees considered “mandatory reporters” who become aware of an act of sexual violence to report it, regardless of whether the victim wants it reported or not. Some universities may define all employees as such. However, mandated reporting under this policy does not promise confidentiality, something Freyd seeks to reform.

Freyd suggested a shift to a more flexible policy in which neither faculty nor staff are compelled to report cases of sexual misconduct, but rather are encouraged to talk to the victim to find out what they want and support them accordingly. A fundamental problem of the existing policy, she claimed, is its potential to add to survivors’ trauma by taking control away from them.

“One of the most harmful things to do to a survivor of sexual violence is to take away their control,” Freyd said.

Freyd has focused much of her research on institutional betrayal, or the psychological effects of institution such as universities failing to respond appropriately to cases of trauma. In her studies, she said, she found an institution’s poor or inadequate response often caused nearly as much damage as the incident at hand.

Burden of proof

Villasenor focused specifically on the risk of false convictions as a result of the lower burden of proof required to find someone responsible under a university Title IX process. A 2011 “Dear Colleague” letter from the Department of Education instructed schools to use a “preponderance of evidence” or “more likely than not” standard in adjudicating cases, rather than the higher “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard used in criminal court. “Preponderance of evidence” is used in civil court.

Villasenor described research in which he predicted the number of false convictions of the accused, taking into account that the burden of proof is much lower than in criminal cases. Villasenor is concerned that this different standard could lead to substantially higher wrongful findings of guilt.

Freyd pointed out that there are many instances in which victims seeking justice could be reluctant to pursue a case if the burden of proof is too high.

Both Freyd and Villasenor agreed that before making any substantive changes to the Title IX process, especially concerning burden of proof, more research would have to be conducted and more alternatives evaluated.

Nonetheless, Freyd feels that the conversation is moving forward.

“We are better prepared to have a dialogue than we were five years ago,” she said.

 

Contact William Dunlop at wjdunlop ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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Fair highlights resources for sexual assault victims https://stanforddaily.com/2018/04/19/fair-highlights-resources-for-sexual-assault-victims/ https://stanforddaily.com/2018/04/19/fair-highlights-resources-for-sexual-assault-victims/#respond Thu, 19 Apr 2018 09:29:49 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1139648 On Wednesday, the Women’s Community Center hosted a Sexual Assault Resources Fair where students could come speak directly with representatives from four campus organizations concerned with sexual assault.

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On Wednesday, the Women’s Community Center hosted a Sexual Assault Resources Fair where students could speak directly with representatives from four campus organizations concerned with sexual assault.

The Title IX Office, Office of Sexual Assault and Relationship Abuse Education and Response (SARA), Stanford University Department of Public Safety (SUDPS) and Confidential Support Team (CST) were all represented at the event, which was planned for April to coincide with the nationally observed Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Event organizer Ginger Gramson ’20 said she wanted to provide sexual assault survivors and their peers an opportunity to see the kind of resources available on campus. She added that, rather than just handing out pamphlets or sharing website links, the idea of the fair was to give students the ability to engage directly with members of the campus support network.

Although individual support groups hold events, send emails and post flyers, Grace Cheng ’21 expressed uncertainty over the nuances of different support groups’ roles.

“I came to learn about the resources there are on campus, since I hadn’t really heard about [them],” Cheng said.

The organizations distributed pamphlets detailing their specific roles on campus.

CST is a free, anonymous counseling resource that provides therapy but also advises victims on how to best use other resources available to them. SARA provides another network of support, including advocacy, counseling, medical care and academic assistance. SARA also organizes sexual educational programs such as Beyond Sex Ed, held at the start of the school year.

The Title IX Office is the University’s administrative group that oversees official non-criminal investigations into cases of sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual misconduct, relationship violence and stalking on campus.

SUDPS Chief Laura Wilson highlighted what she sees as a couple of key differences between reporting to the police and first approaching the University. For one thing, Wilson said, the burden of proof is much lower in University proceedings than in typical, public legal proceedings.

Regarding the accessibility of police resources to people of color and other minorities, Wilson noted that Stanford’s campus police take more training classes than required by the state of California and said they are constantly taking steps to promote diversity within their own ranks.

“It’s a complex topic,” Wilson said, elaborating on the distinct role campus police play in cases of sexual assault.

While the event focused on the resources provided by existing organizations, Tessa Lisanti ’21 said that, by attending, she hoped to become a better resource herself.

“I came to educate myself and be able to better help others around me,” Lisanti said.

 

Contact William Dunlop at wjdunlop ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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Dahkota Brown ’20 hopes to be Band’s first Native American Tree mascot https://stanforddaily.com/2018/02/22/dahkota-brown-20-hopes-to-be-bands-first-native-american-tree-mascot/ https://stanforddaily.com/2018/02/22/dahkota-brown-20-hopes-to-be-bands-first-native-american-tree-mascot/#respond Thu, 22 Feb 2018 08:25:50 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1137160 Dahkota Brown ’20, a candidate for the Stanford Tree of the Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band (LSJUMB), has been camping in a tent outside the Cecil H. Green Library as “Donald J. Stump” for the past week in hopes of becoming the Band's first Native American mascot.

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Dahkota Brown ’20, a candidate for the Stanford Tree of the Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band (LSJUMB), has been camping in a tent outside the Cecil H. Green Library as “Donald J. Stump” for the past week in hopes of becoming the Band’s first Native American mascot. 

Until 1972, Stanford’s mascot was known as the “Indian,” according to the Stanford Native American Cultural Center. Brown, the financial officer of the Stanford American Indian Organization, has previously appeared before the California State Assembly to advocate for the passage of legislature banning the use of the “Redskin” as a school mascot. He is also currently a sousaphone player in the LSJUMB, and as such has been part of the Defend Our Honor campaign, which advocates against the use of culturally insensitive mascots in sports.

As a Miwok from the Wilton Rancheria in the foothills of California, Brown seeks to bring his indigenous identity into the role of the Tree. According to Brown, the fact that the mascot comes from a history of oppression he worked very actively against is one of the primary motivations behind his candidacy.

“No native person has ever been the Tree,” he said.

Spending nights in his tent outside Green has been “rather chilly,” he noted, but it’s all part of his run for Band mascot. Brown also took part in several stunts as part of Tree Week, the official week during which Tree candidates, nicknamed “sprouts,” audition for the mascot position. These stunts ranged from a cake-tasting competition featuring a raw lasagna noodle cake to allowing fellow band members to “fertilize” him with cow manure in a planter box. Last Saturday, he was bonded in holy matrimony to another Tree candidate, Alex Goodman ’20. Brown also gave a mock President’s Day address last Monday where he read a list of the names of previous Stanford presidents and snorted an increasingly spicy powder after each.

“This Tree Week has been a really amazing experience,” Brown said. “Stunts aside, just getting to know my fellow Sprouts has been a highlight.”

The new Tree will be chosen by the band members tomorrow night, and will be publicly announced early Saturday morning.

Contact William Dunlop at wjdunlop ‘at’ stanford.edu.

 

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Stanford faculty advise national blockchain projects in Papua New Guinea https://stanforddaily.com/2017/11/02/stanford-faculty-oversee-national-blockchain-projects-in-papua-new-guinea/ https://stanforddaily.com/2017/11/02/stanford-faculty-oversee-national-blockchain-projects-in-papua-new-guinea/#respond Thu, 02 Nov 2017 07:33:42 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1132379 Two weeks ago, delegates of the Papua New Guinean government visited Stanford to meet with an advisory board of University faculty members and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs to discuss the implementation of blockchain, an advanced networking system consisting of many interconnected computer databases.

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Two weeks ago, delegates of the Papua New Guinean government visited Stanford to assemble and hold preliminary meetings with an advisory board of University faculty members and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Charles Abel, Central Bank Governor Loi Bakani and Assistant Speaker of Parliament Rainbo Paita of Papua New Guinea came to discuss implementing blockchain at a national level to boost the country’s development.

Stanford faculty advise national blockchain projects in Papua New Guinea
The Papua New Guinea blockchain team (Courtesy of Ernestine Fu).

Blockchain is a networking database that can serve as the base for complex and secure activities such as cryptocurrency transfer, banking and maintenance of sensitive data registries. With blockchain, financial firms are able to maintain an immutable record of digital events, forming the basis of an infrastructure where secure transactions can be made.

The country plans to officially launch this initiative come January 2018. The collaboration between the public and technical sectors is an opportunity not only for Papua New Guinea, but also for entrepreneurs and researchers interested in implementing blockchain technology on a larger scale amid the new policy challenges that it poses.

In Papua New Guinea, the recent round of Parliament elections means that holistic five-year proposals detailing the specific policy goals of each of the elected members will be due at the beginning of next year. Several of these plans are slated to include blockchain, making Papua New Guinea among the first nations to consider this technology at a national level. The government is even considering setting aside one more of the islands in its territory as a special economic zone, hoping to attract unprecedented development in complex networking by allowing the region extensive decision-making freedom.

Technical barriers to blockchain implementation in Papua New Guinea primarily concern  network connectivity in a largely remote and undeveloped island. Ernestine Fu, Stanford lecturer and inaugural member of the advisory group, commented that “regulation is one of the biggest hurdles for blockchain right now.” Several details surrounding the regulation of blockchain activity are uncertain largely because no significant precedent exists in the way of implementing blockchain in a formal setting.

A major component of blockchain involves secure currency transfer and monetary activities that take place largely outside of the sphere of traditional banks.

“A country like Papua New Guinea, where the banking infrastructure is not as developed as somewhere like the U.S., provides a lot of opportunity for blockchain, especially since every single individual is not fully set up with as extensive of a financial banking solution as in the U.S.,” Fu explained. Blockchain also has enormous potential for managing government registries such as records of mining, forestry, oil and gas leases to both domestic and international corporations.

Fu is not the only faculty member intricately involved in the advisory board. David Mazières is a professor of computer science at Stanford and chief scientist of the Stellar Development Foundation, which invented Stellar, a blockchain-based open platform for secure money transfer. According to Mazières, the technical problems related to implementing blockchain in Papua New Guinea raises are perfect opportunities for advancing research on the subject.

“I’m eager to serve both because it seems like an opportunity for impact, and because it is a good source of research inspiration,” Mazières said.  

The push to implement blockchain is largely driven by the Papua New Guinea Parliament, Day One Investments, a blockchain venture capital fund, industrial leaders in blockchain and The Asia Foundation, a nonprofit which works to promote sustainable growth in developing countries such as Papua New Guinea.

“This blockchain trend is something that we must position ourselves for,” said Assistant Speaker of Parliament Rainbo Paita. “I am here in Silicon Valley to learn and express support for this initiative.”

 

Contact William Dunlop at wjdunlop ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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