Speech/Meeting Coverage Synopsis
A. Type of story

This story is about… this university’s recent revisions to its sexual
misconduct policies and how it affects students. The mainbar features this
university’s newly implemented policy changes and the sidebar is about
the ongoing national investigations into more than 80 schools regarding
Title IX violations.
o Key story elements include direct quotes from faculty and the
Title IX coordinator, this university’s “It’s On Us” rebranded logo
and a student’s reaction to sexual misconduct at this university.
o Techniques include the FORK method for blocking sources,
background research about the Department of Education’s
investigation into Title IX violations, a soft impact lead, a list lead,
a factual kicker and two quote-kicker endings.
B. Focus/theme of the story

The story focuses on recent actions taken by this university in improving
its sexual misconduct policy as a response to the Department of
Education’s recent investigations in nationwide Title IX violations.
Information disseminated by the university is interesting and relevant to
each and every student.
C. News values/qualities

The story has the news value of timeliness because of recent national
investigations into more than 80 schools regarding Title IX violations and
this university’s actions to revise its sexual misconduct code. The story
also has the news value of human interest because sexual assault is an
uncomfortable topic to discuss personally. Instead, this article plans to
shed light onto recent policy changes at the university by bringing the
issue to the forefront.
D. Target audiences/publics

Target publics include university students, students living on campus,
students who are victims or know of victims and members of popular
student-run groups along with groups specializing in preventing sexual
harassment. All students but most notably, females should take note of
their rights on a federally sanctioned academic campus.
###
Speech/Meeting Coverage Five C’s
1. Compare readability
Mainbar Sidebar Advancer
29
41
48
10
16
10
437
19.8
1.6
0%
12.0
224
16.7
1.6
0%
12.0
90
30.3
1.0
0%
12.0
SEO CCT
SEO Key
Word Freq.
WCT
WPS
SPP
PV%
GL
Mbar RW Sbar RW
29
41
Advancer RW
48
12
16
10
442
20.8
1.8
0%
12.0
252
18.0
1.8
0%
12.0
87
29.0
1.0
0%
12.0
2. Cut needless words

Cut 25 words, about 4% percent of original word count
o Changed deck to incorporate lecture sponsorship.
o Eliminated needless words such as “is” throughout entire story to
tighten sentences.
o Corrected titles for Office of Sexual Misconduct and Relationship
Violence employees.
3. Contribute better words, phrases, construction, content, detail




Moved paragraph about lecture further up in the mainbar.
Defined Title IX for maximum comprehension
Referred to AP Stylebook for correct spelling of Baha’i faith.
Included more references to this university throughout the entire story.
4. Clean up


GSPS
o I corrected titles for Office of Sexual Misconduct and Relationship
Violence employees.
o I fixed errors related to AP Stylebook (4 p.m. not 4:00 p.m.)
o I removed needless words like “is.”
o I cut down on sentence length and focused on varying sentences to
keep reader engaged.
W/R-ed
o I added more visuals within my mainbar and sidebar to keep reader
engaged.
(more)
Simanin (WR# 7), A#2 Five C’s, 2
o Outlined quote boxes.
o I included concluding blurbs in my mainbar and sidebar for more
information.
5. Collaborate



Incorporated TA’s feedback to focus more on the university.
Because of Professor Toth’s feedback, I omitted needless words
throughout my story and defined Title IX.
With Professor Toth’s insight, I included short blurbs for more
information.
###
SEO: Title IX undergoes policy changes
New Title IX revisions set fresh expectations
Univ announces new policy revisions for sexual misconduct at Baha’i event
Last year, this university’s Office of Public Safety reported four cases of domestic
violence, nine cases of dating violence, 13 cases of stalking and a total of 19 cases of
sexual offenses. To Title IX director Catherine Carroll, however, these numbers are too
low and grossly misrepresent the situation.
At a lecture on sexual assault sponsored by the Baha’i Chair for World Peace,
Carroll announced this university’s revised sexual misconduct policies and its impact on
students. The lecture, hosted at the Colony Ballroom within the Adele H. Stamp Student
Union on Oct. 15, 2014, featured notable documentary filmmaker Lisa F. Jackson and a
short premiere of her new film on college campus sexual assault.
Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis
of sex in federally funded schools. Instead, a new investigation by the
Department of Education uncovered numerous Title IX violations by
academic institutions across the country. These recent revelations have
propelled the issue of sexual assault on college campuses into the
University rebrands “It’s On Us”
program. Picture courtesy of Office
of Sexual Misconduct and
Relationship Violence
national media spotlight. With more than 80 schools under
government investigation, this university chose to reassess its sexual
misconduct policies.
Under the guidance of Carroll, the Office of Sexual Misconduct and Relationship
Violence set out to review its current policies to better serve the student community.
(more)
Simanin (WR# 7), A#2 Title IX Revisions, 2
“The newly revised policies streamline our efforts to get
to the bottom of a case,” said Josh Bronson, assistant director and
special investigator of this university’s Office of Sexual
Misconduct and Relationship Violence.
“UMD has great
resources in place for
victims of sexual
violence.”
-Samantha Enokian
Bronson credits the university’s will to improve for the
new policies even though the university remains safe from government investigation.
Impact on students
To ensure students understand the changes, Carroll hopes to
implement required online training before class registration for next
semester opens. The goal is to engage more students across different
backgrounds and different groups, Carroll said.
Though the lecture received a low turnout, students who were in
attendance had nothing but praise for Carroll’s announcement. Sophomore
Signage from Baha’i Chair
lecture.
Photo by Ilan Simanin
Russian major Samantha Enokian favors the new additions to policies for
its supportive measures.
“I think that this new policy is in the best interest of victims of sexual violence.”
While Carroll has trouble imagining a campus free of sexual assault, she notes the
university is heading down the correct path. Like Bronson, she commends the actions this
university has taken and its importance in striving for a better future.
“We’ll know if we’re doing a good job if we see the number of reported offenses
rise. That’ll be a true representation of the work we’re doing.”
(more)
Simanin (WR# 7), A#2 Title IX Revisions, 3
For a comprehensive overview of this university’s sexual misconduct policy
changes, students are advised to visit the website of this university’s Office of Sexual
Misconduct and Relationship Violence.
###
SEO: Government investigates violations of Title IX
Department of Education slams schools for Title IX violations
Univ officials caution students in pending government investigations
As college football season comes to an end, it seems that the Department of
Education is calling an abrupt time out. With more than 80 academic institutions under
investigation for Title IX violations, the department’s list of schools continues to grow
each and every day. This university, however, remains in the clear with no threatening
penalties.
The Office for Civil Rights under the United States
Department of Education continues to handle the
government’s investigation into countless Title IX
violations. Under law, institutions receiving federal aid
“More people are
coming out because
more people know
where to report.”
-Josh Bronson
must abide by Title IX regulations while supervising sexual
assault cases.
Josh Bronson, assistant director and special investigator at
A university poster plastered all over
campus advocating for consent.
Picture courtesy of Office of Sexual
Misconduct and Relationship Violence
this university’s Office of Sexual Misconduct and Relationship
Violence cautions students looking into the investigations.
“As the scandal unfolds, it’s going to get worse before it gets better,” said
Bronson.
While this university is not on the list for investigation, university officials
continue to implement new changes in sexual misconduct policies. Students have access
to many resources and will continue to do so as the university reconsiders new measures,
said Bronson.
(more)
Simanin (WR# 7), A#2 Government Sidebar, 2
Why now?
Sexual assault on college campuses has erupted onto the national stage. Though
the issue is nothing new to academia, supporters of the investigations note the importance
of the White House’s backing of women’s rights.
“What’s going to be interesting is when we begin investigating the K-12
infrastructure. Sexual assault tendencies start somewhere.”
For a complete guide to proper sexual behavior, students are advised to visit the
website of this university’s Office of Sexual Misconduct and Relationship Violence.
###
SEO: Baha’i Chair to host lecture on school sexual misconduct
U to feature filmmaker on sexual assault on campus
Join the Baha’i Chair for World Peace Wednesday as they feature documentary
filmmaker Lisa F. Jackson and discuss sexual assault on college campuses.
In partnership with the Department of Women’s Studies, the lecture will raise
questions surrounding the current investigations into Title IX violations, feature a short
premiere of Jackson’s film on campus sexual assault and reveal new revisions to current
sexual misconduct policies.
The lecture will be held at the Colony Ballroom within Adele H. Stamp Student
Union at 4 p.m. and available to the public.
###