“The educational mission of a university is to foster an open learning and working environment. Any form of intimidation or discrimination is antithetical to this mission. Thus, Webster University is committed to providing faculty, staff, and students with an environment free from implicit and explicit coercive sexual behavior used to control, influence, or affect the well being of any member of its [communities]. Sexual Harassment/Stalking/Assault are not tolerated.” 

— Webster University Sexual Harassment and Assault Information handout

The above is a promise made by Webster University to its community of faculty, staff, and students. Recent events, however,  have made it clear to the student body that fulfilling this promise is not only not the school’s top priority, but that it is not a priority at all. In the past 16 weeks, Webster University has failed to act to protect its community from the threat of sexual violence and intimidation despite persistent call from the student body to do so. While the sexual assault policy has been rewritten, this policy has remained theoretical and many students have been burdened with the consequences of Webster’s failure to act. In the past 16 weeks, a student has been found responsible in violation of the school’s sexual assault policy and has been permitted to remain on campus. By failing to punish a proven sexual offender, Webster University has acted as a perpetuator of sexual violence and intimidation. It is time for this perpetuation to end and for Webster to live up to the standards set in its policy; that is why we, the Webster community, call for the consideration and deployment of the following six tactics towards the maintaining of a safe environment of academic excellence:

1. We, the members of the Webster community, call for the implementation of a mandatory online sexual assault/consent awareness course to be completed before enrollment at Webster University.

2. We, the members of the Webster community, call for the designation of one day of Freshman Seminar Curriculum to a full review of the student code of conduct/sexual assault policy and procedure concluding with the signing of a personal contract declaring an understanding and acceptance of these rights responsibilities.

3. We, the members of the Webster community, call for a required signature of any resident of Webster University housing on a contract acknowledging their responsibility to abide by Webster’s sexual assault policy and their acknowledgement that should said resident break this contract, he, she or they will be held accountable for his, her, or their violation of the policy.  

4. We, the members of the Webster community, call for the requirement of a bi-annual renewal of a student contract agreeing to abide by the sexual assault policy and student code of conduct prior to class registration.

5. We, the members of the Webster community, recognize and appreciate Webster’s effort to spread awareness about the issues of sexual misconduct with various programs and events throughout the year. We call for an increase in advertisement for these events, as they are not currently reaching the attention of the student body.

6. Finally, we, the members of the Webster community, call for a forum in which administration and students may come together and discuss the creation of a “Zero Tolerance” policy for sexual assault.