Sexual Harassment Policy

In order to promote structures of prevention, protection, and support, and to provide education and information that can facilitate the appropriate resolution of complaints of sexual harassment, Perkins School of Theology has established an Advisory Panel on Sexual Harassment. This panel is comprised of nine members of the Perkins community, as follows: three members of the faculty or administration, three members of the staff (non-exempt), and three students. The members are appointed by the Dean upon recommendation of the Committee on Gender, Ethnic, and Racial Concerns and are chosen to best represent the range of racial, ethnic, and gender constituencies within the Perkins community. Faculty and staff members of the panel normally serve a three-year term. Student members can be appointed in their second year and serve for two or three years, depending on the length of their matriculation. The Panel will meet at least once each term; its chair is selected by its members.

The panel accepts responsibility for informing itself about issues related to sexual harassment through readings, workshops, and consultation with experts in the field. The panel will also be responsible for providing educational materials and presentations to the Perkins community, and will work with the Office of Institutional Access and Equity to keep the community informed as to any changes in the SMU Policies and Procedures in this regard.

Any member of the Perkins community can approach any member of the panel for advice or information on these matters. Individuals on the panel can serve as interpreters of the SMU policy to Perkins community members should a concern or question arise. The following is the Perkins Sexual Harassment Panel for 2008 - 2009.

Faculty/Staff
Tracy Anne Allred
Tonya Burton
Paula Dobbs-Wiggins
Mary Gallegos
Judy Gibbons
Clyde Putman

Students
Wade Lindstrom
Monty Moore
Alina Somodevilla

Community members can directly contact Beth Wilson in the SMU Office of Institutional Access and Equity at 214-768-3601 or accessequity@smu.edu .  The Web site for this office is smu.edu/aao.  Community  members may also contact Dr Cathey Soutter in the SMU Testing and Counseling Center at 214-768-4795 or csoutter@smu.edu.