Department of Radio-Television
School of Journalism
The University of Montana
Missoula, MT 59812-6480
Phone (406) 243-4081
The Footbridge Forum
Without Consent
In 2004, The University of Montana’s Radio-Television Department launched a series
of experimental radio programs. The idea was to take a “town and gown” issue, produce
radio reports on the topic, seat a panel of citizens to discuss the problem on live radio,
and generate suggestions for solutions.
Over the years, students and their faculty adviser have tackled issues ranging from the
development of the south campus area to cheating in school to homelessness. The
programs have aired on KBGA College Radio and the work has won regional, national
and international acclaim.
This year, students producing The Footbridge Forum decided to dig into the issue of
sexual assault on campus. They invited students, parents, athletes, law officers, faculty,
staff and administrators to brainstorm ways to stop sexual assault on campus and in the
community. Over a series of three live radio programs, participants came up with
suggestions for various community groups to begin to address the problem.
The students moderated the discussion as the citizen panel came up with these ideas.
Some of this work is already coming about as the community continues to deal with this
ongoing problem. The suggestions are meant to prompt discussion and possible courses
of action for those on the front lines of this issue. Many different stakeholders around
this issue will receive this letter to do with as they see fit.
Thank you for taking the time to review the citizen suggestions. Any feedback on the
process would be most welcome.
Sincerely,
Denise Dowling
Faculty Adviser
The Footbridge Forum
Denise.dowling@umontana.edu
May 29, 2012
Over the past six months, it has become clear that sexual assault is a serious
problem, both for the University of Montana and for Missoula as a whole. Because this
problem involves the entire community, no single person or group can solve it. Still,
every person and group can take some steps to improve the situation.
Students at The University of Montana School of Journalism invited members of
the community to give their suggestions about how to prevent sexual assault in a series of
radio shows called the Footbridge Forum. After three hours of live discussion and many
more of research and interviews, they have compiled the following list of specific
proposals from Missoula residents. Perhaps the list can be a starting point for more ideas,
as Missoula tries to address sexual assault in the weeks and months ahead.
Sincerely,
Jonathon Ambarien
Clark Hodges
Jamie Bedwell
Josh Nierstheimer
Jacquelyn Coffin
Mike Powell
Emily Creasia
Emily Wendler
The student members of The Footbridge Forum: Without Consent
TO UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATORS:
-Be more transparent: Explain WHY the university can’t share information about cases,
personnel changes, etc. (FERPA, HIPAA, etc.) Talk to the media, even if it’s to say you
cannot be more specific and here are the reasons.
-Continue to protect victim privacy.
-Define sexual assault specifically: When a victim reports assault to the university, what
is qualified as a sexual assault? When an instance is not considered sexual assault, as
with one of the incidents with the Saudi Arabian student, explain why.
-Clarify when sexual assault can and cannot be reported to law enforcement and why.
-Share student incidents with police when allowed.
-Carefully review the legalities to ensure sharing with law enforcement happens
whenever it is allowed.
-Set protocol for accused violators, deal with violations swiftly, follow the protocol every
time and make the protocol publicly known.
-Clarify and train campus employees about the Clery Act, FERPA, HIPAA, etc.
-Update university alert system to better alert campus community of emergency
situations.
TO UNIVERSITY FACULTY AND STAFF:
-Take a stand against sexual assault. Every single member of the campus community has
the responsibility of preventing sexual assault by supporting victims, setting strong,
positive examples and pressuring administrators to act swiftly and consistently in cases
of sexual assault.
-Speak out against any kind of negative, crude or victim-blaming comment.
-Encourage, but don’t force, victims to report.
-Understand the limitations set by university policies such as the Clery Act, HIPAA,
FERPA, Title IX, etc.
TO EDUCATORS ON AND OFF CAMPUS:
-Clarify and define sexual assault, what defines consent, how sexual assault affects both
men and women and what they can to do to prevent it.
-Talk about alcohol and sexual assault including responsible partying, what consent
means when both parties have been drinking, bystander intervention.
-Publicize resources for victims. Where can a victim find help and what kind of help can
each agency offer?
-Educate about consequences including psychological impacts on victims, legal
consequences for offenders.
-Encourage all but especially women to be more supportive of victims. Acknowledge the
tendency to victim-blame and discourage that thinking.
-Better educate high school students and incoming freshman (online tutorial, alcohol
awareness, assault consequences, etc.)
-Put emphasis on educating our YOUNG MEN, instead of always telling WOMEN how to
prevent rape.
TO LAW ENFORCEMENT:
-Define sexual assault and clarify when it can be reported to law enforcement by other
agencies.
-Be more transparent about your process and requirements for successful prosecution.
-Help the public to better understand parts of the legal process that surrounds sexual
assault.
-Try to negate the idea that many/most allegations of sexual assault are false or a case of
“regret sex.”
-Encourage victims to report. Try to negate the perception that a victim will be
humiliated if they testify.
TO THE MEDIA:
-Publish reports about sexual assault that do not blame the victim.
-Explain laws surrounding sexual assault reporting and the university (FERPA, HIPAA,
Title IX, the Clery Act, etc.) to aid in community comprehension of the proper course of
action.
-Avoid misleading headlines.
-Correct any mistakes quickly and boldly.
-Don’t allow rumor and/or misinformation to be repeated in letters to the editor, guest
editorials, etc.
-Follow up on cases as much as possible and explain the processes and limitations
involved in prosecution, plea-bargaining, and other legal actions.
TO VICTIM SUPPORT RESOURCES:
-Clarify the process of reporting sexual assaults to the community and what your agency
can and cannot provide.
-Communicate the importance of evidence collection and reporting of assault in terms of
preventing future attacks.
-Train young people in how to support a victim of assault.
-Get information about sexual assault resources to the campus community, especially
incoming freshmen.
-Encourage all, but especially women, to be more supportive of victims by running
campaigns and events.
-Focus your message on men and how they can prevent rape.
-Consider how treatment of victims might support the mistaken notion that being raped is
somehow shameful.
-Ensure through follow up that victims understand the limitations placed on help
agencies regarding reporting to law enforcement, the university, etc.
TO THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT:
-Own up to the problem-your department has a disproportionate number of
offenders/accused.
-Do not defend/hide the accused.
-Examine the culture in athletics, especially football, which might contribute to the
problem.
-Have a clear protocol for dealing with those accused and explain it to the public.
-Have a clear protocol for dealing with those convicted and apply consistently.
-Encourage peer “policing” in the athletics department.
-Educate all athletes and coaches about sexual assault, bystander intervention and the
very public role athletes have in our community.
-Encourage athletes and others to set a “zero-tolerance” standard with their peers.
TO PEERS:
-Find a way to intervene if you see the potential for assault.
-Encourage victims to seek help through community resources and the legal system.
-Assign blame where it is deserved-by the people who assault and rape.
-Set a standard for drinking and staying in control. Make a pact with friends to protect
each other.
-Take the stigma out of preventing your friends from engaging in sexual activity with an
overly intoxicated individual.
-Men must discourage any language, jokes, etc. that may encourage sexual assault to be
seen as a socially acceptable act. Sexual assault is a crime of power that men can and
should prevent.
TO EVERY MEMBER OF THE MISSOULA COMMUNITY:
-Educate yourself on the reality of sexual assault. Don’t repeat rumor or falsity.
-Look at sexual assault as a crime of power, not a crime of sex.
-Stop victim blaming. Assign blame to the people who commit assault and rape.
-Don’t blame the media for reporting on the issue.
-Don’t blame the UM administration for the problem, but do hold them accountable for
responsible communication.
-Model good behavior and educate children about sexual assault, consent, responsible
drinking and respect.
-Encourage women to be more supportive of victims.
-Don’t reward aggressive or violent behavior.
-Examine the role of Griz athletics in our community and the community’s role in their
behavior.
-Focus on educating men not to rape instead of focusing on women and how to prevent
rape.
-Learn to talk to boys and young men about personal boundaries, definitions and
consequences.
The following page contains a mailing list with the names and addresses of people to
receive these final findings regarding sexual assault conducted by Emily Creasia, funded
in part by the Pat Williams Scholarship Award Program.
President Royce Engstrom
University Hall 109
The University of Montana
Provost Perry Brown
University Hall 125
The University of
Montana
Vice President Jim Foley
University Hall 109
The University of
Montana
Vice President Teresa
Branch
University Hall 22
The University of Montana
Lucy France
University Hall 20
The University of
Montana
David Aronofsky
University Hall 135
The University of
Montana
Dean of Students
University Hall 22
The University of Montana
Clayton Christian
MUS Board of Regents
PO Box 203201
Helena, MT 59620-3201
Dr. Alex Apostle
915 South Ave. West
Missoula, MT 59801
Heather Davis-Schmidt
915 South Ave. W.
Missoula, MT 59801
Health Enhancement Staff
Hellgate High School
900 S. Higgins
Missoula, MT 59802
Health Enhancement Staff
Sentinel High School
901 South Ave. West
Missoula, MT 59801
Sherry Devlin
The Missoulian
500 S. Higgins
Missoula, MT 59801
Robert Meyerowitz
The Independent
PO Box 8275
Missoula, MT 59807
Alex Sakariassen
The Independent
PO Box 8275
Missoula, MT 59807
Gwen Florio
The Missoulian
500 S. Higgins
Missoula, MT 59801
Principal
Hellgate High School
900 S. Higgins
Missoula, MT 59802
Tom Blakely
Sentinel High School
901 South Ave. West
Missoula, MT 59801
Principal
Big Sky High School
3100 South Ave. West
Missoula, MT 59804
Health Enhancement Staff
Big Sky High School
3100 South Ave. West
Missoula, MT 59804
UM Office of Public Safety
The University of
Montana
Police Chief Mark Muir
435 Ryman
Missoula, MT 59802
Sheriff Carl Ibsen
200 W. Broadway
Missoula, MT 59802
Fred Van Valkenburg
County Attorney
200 W. Broadway
Missoula, MT 59802
Mike Powers
KPAX Television
2204 Regent St.
Missoula, MT 59804
Sean Dunster
KECI Television
340 West Main
Missoula, MT 59802
Sally Mauk
KUFM Radio
PAR-TV Building
The University of
Montana
SARC
Curry Health Center
The University of Montana
YWCA
Sexual Assault Counselors
1130 West Broadway
Missoula, MT 59802
Jean Gee
Athletics
The University of
Montana
First Step
St. Patrick Hospital
500 West Broadway
Missoula, MT 59802