A Message to the Penn Community
A Message to the Penn Community
From
Amy Gutmann, President
Vincent Price, Provost
In the past year, we led a comprehensive review of the University’s protocols for responding to complaints of sexual violence. Finding the best policies and procedures for complaints of sexual violence is a matter of the upmost importance for every university in the country. We reviewed the University’s disciplinary process for handling complaints of sexual violence, consulted widely with campus constituents, and analyzed legislative changes, guidance from the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, and procedures utilized by peer institutions. As a result of this work, we determined that our procedures for handling complaints could be strengthened.
The Council of Deans approved amendments to the Student Disciplinary Charter for handling allegations of sexual violence against enrolled Penn students, and those changes will take effect February 1st and apply to all 12 schools. The Procedures will be published in Almanac tomorrow (Tuesday) and can also be found at: http://www.upenn.edu/almanac/volumes/v61/n20/pdf/012715supplement.pdf.
Penn has been a longtime leader in responding to complaints of sexual violence and offering innovative education and prevention programs in this area. We have, in recent years, revised our Sexual Violence, Relationship Violence and Stalking Policy (Sexual Violence Policy); created and filled a new position for a Sexual Violence Educator; and strengthened the educational initiatives offered in New Student Orientation.
In addition to the new procedures that will be implemented on February 1st, we are pleased to announce that we have hired the University’s first Sexual Violence Investigative Officer. Christopher Mallios has been selected for the position and begins his duties today.
Mr. Mallios has served since 2010 as Attorney Advisor for AEquitas, where he earned a national reputation as an expert on sexual violence, domestic violence and stalking. He worked in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office for nearly 16 years, in a series of progressively responsible positions culminating in his service for 4 years as Chief of the Office’s Family Violence and Sexual Assault Unit. During that period, Mr. Mallios also served as the District Attorney’s liaison to Philadelphia’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and as an advisor to the Philadelphia Police Department's Special Victims Unit and Internal Affairs Divisions.
Mr. Mallios will serve as the lead investigator of all complaints of violations of the University’s policy on Sexual Violence, Relationship Violence and Stalking made against students enrolled in any of Penn’s 12 schools. He will work to support the University’s aims of fairly, fully, and promptly investigating all such complaints and support the implementation of the new Amendment to the Student Disciplinary Charter for complaints of Sexual Violence. He will also work with colleagues to educate students, faculty, and staff about the new process for responding to complaints and assist with efforts to prevent sexual violence.
Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students is among our highest priorities, and the prevention of sexual violence on campus is central to that aim. We will continue to do all that we can to help ensure that those making complaints and those responding to those complaints are treated fairly and receive the support they need throughout the process. We are grateful to the members of our community who work tirelessly on violence prevention and the needs of students impacted by it. We thank all of those who offered advice and counsel and encourage your continued engagement in discussions about these important matters.
