Our Commitment to Safety is Absolute
Dear Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵs, faculty and staff members,
As you may be aware, a news outlet published a story this morning that focused on a former Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ who faced allegations of sexual misconduct while attending several universities in our state, including UL Lafayette.
The Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ cooperated extensively with the publication over the past several months. We answered questions thoroughly and provided requested public records. We believe in transparency, and our responsiveness to inquiries reflected that belief.
The story is nonetheless troubling. Though the Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ followed state and federal laws and policies as they existed at the time, the article highlights critical communication gaps that need to be addressed.
Current, ongoing discussions in the Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ Legislature will likely result in further reforms as to how higher education institutions communicate allegations of sexual misconduct.
The Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ, along with our fellow Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ of Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ System institutions, has been actively engaged in these discussions. We will continue to do so because we fully support these efforts.
But our work is not confined to legislation alone. We must continue to improve programs and initiatives that prevent this misconduct from occurring.
The Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ takes all allegations of sexual assault and misconduct seriously. Our commitment to creating a living, learning and working environment where every member of our campus community has their rights respected, and feels safe, is absolute.
Sincerely,
Dr. Joseph Savoie
President