Hofstra introduces a new platform that enables students to report incidents anonymously // Photo courtesy of Caitlin O’Brien
Hofstra University launched a new online system for students and staff to report violations of university policies and codes of conduct, with the announcement going public on Thursday, Sept. 10.
In an email sent to the student body, the Office of Student Affairs wrote that the system “provides centralized reporting for non-emergency incidents, including those that violate conduct codes and campus policies.”
The new system is run through EthicsPoint, a third-party platform that is unaffiliated with Hofstra and is used by universities around the United States. The system allows university community members to confidentially report incidents, including “sexual misconduct, behaviors that communicate bias or marginalization, or create a hostile or unwelcoming learning and working environment,” according to the email. While EthicsPoint gathers the reports, it has not changed the university policy of all reports being sent to the appropriate office that is trained to deal with the issue.
One feature of the platform is that it allows for anonymous reporting, something that typically cannot be done when reporting an incident in person or over the phone. “Anonymity is very important to report anything that goes on on campus,” said Andrew Cardell, a junior in the physician assistant studies program. “If people felt uncomfortable reporting bias and discrimination before, I think this will help them feel more comfortable this that.”
EthicsPoint’s system warns those who choose to make an anonymous report that anonymity may limit the University’s ability to investigate and resolve the situation. Regardless of whether the report is anonymous or not, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Cornell Craig said that “it is still valuable information to really understand what is going on on campus [and] what concerns are out there.”
Sophomore political science major Lindsey Hill is appreciative of the University’s efforts. “It’s an attempt to try and make our campus safer,” she said.
Other students, like senior public policy and rhetorical studies double major Imani Thompson, are concerned the system will not meet expectations. “There still is not an office, let alone an individual whose role is specifically to address these reports,” she said. Thompson added that anonymity will increase usage of the system and help students avoid retaliation if that is one of their concerns.
Even though the email was sent only to students, the new reporting system is available to all members of the Hofstra community. “It’s also about keeping faculty, administrators and staff comfortable [and] safe, and having a clear and efficient reporting system for them,” Craig said.
Craig is hopeful that the system will help the University administration find blind spots within the institution and take action in situations where it is needed. “We want to be aware of those areas where we need improvement, where we need more education, where we need more awareness around a particular issue or topic,” he said. “There are going to be issues that need to be addressed.”
Craig also wants community members to feel comfortable using the system and for the system to help reinforce that Hofstra is a safe and welcoming community.
The EthicsPoint platform is specifically for reporting non-emergency incidents. All emergency incidents should be reported immediately to Public Safety.