U of M takes a tougher stance against sexual harassment

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - The University of Minnesota has taken a harder stance on sexual harassment. 

“A lot of times people talk, they talk in confidence, they might just want to bounce things off of other people,” Joe Tamburino, a criminal defense attorney said. 

The university will require all university employees to report harassment involving students. 

“I think it’s going to have a couple of unintended consequences,” Tamburino said. “One, people are not going to report when they should in some circumstances. And two, you are going to catch a lot of people who didn’t do anything wrong.” 

Tamburino worries the policy might do more harm than good. However, supporters believe it is a step that will make students safer. 

“I think that it’s a very positive push, because it centers the survivor,” Apporva Malarvannan of the Minnesota Student Association told Fox 9. 

On Friday, the Board of Regents approved the policy citing a study that nearly one in four female Twin Cities undergrads report experiencing sexual assault. 

Although the policy was created with good intentions, legal experts worry that some victims might become less likely to discuss their experiences knowing they will have to be reported. They also worry that it will create an environment where second and third hand allegations could land on a student’s permanent record. 

“And this is going to cost the university greatly because think of all the staff they are going to have to increase to deal with all of these reporters,” Tamburino said. 

Before the change, only supervisors and employees of authority could inform the university about reports of sexual misconduct.

Legal experts expect the number of cases presented to the university and outside counsel will rise, but only time will tell what effect the policy has. 

The new policy takes effect January 1.