University of Alaska Board of Regents is trying to improve campus culture when it comes to sexual assault. Regent John Davies lead a listening session at UAF’s Wood Center last Wednesday to solicit comments and concerns on campus safety. It is the first of a three campus tour of the University system to gather testimony.
Last year UAF announced it had uncovered several instances where it had disregarded its own policy in reacting to reports of sexual assaults on campus. The school said it has restructured its operations and reporting methods to avoid similar lapses in the future. Nevertheless, Regent Davies acknowledges, the Board of Regents has heard from students, faculty and staff that more needs to be done.
 “I know there’s a lot of concern out there about what is going on in terms of the administration’s response to sexual assault and general campus safety,” Davies said.
Davies said local regents in Fairbanks, Anchorage and Juneau will join his listening sessions. Davies heads down to UAA March 30 and Juneau on the 31st. He plans to generate a report for the April Board of Regents meeting. He says President Jim Johnsen has committed resources to ensure campus culture is safer across the UA system. The Board of Regents is also expecting to get the results of an independent review of Title IX compliance at its April meeting.
