Governor’s Task Force on Campus Safety Meeting
Capitol Annex
Frankfort, Kentucky
June 5, 2007
Meeting Notes
Members Present: Gail Minger, Bill Payne, Ed Sergent, Mason Dyer (for Gary Cox), Mike Haney, Heather Wainscott (for Teresa Barton), Jon Akers, Joe Dittman (for Wayne Hall) and Barbara Pauley.
Members Absent: Rodney Raby, Richard Peddicord, Rick Benningfield, Joe Cline, Eric King and Michael LaCount.
Guests Present: Sharon LaRue, University of Louisville PEACC program and Megan Pool, student at Murray State University.
· Gail Minger began the meeting by setting a final meeting date for June 19. She said that she hopes to have a draft of the report completed by this date.
· Mrs. Minger handed out the compliance plan they have been referring to from New York's state safety model. Mrs. Minger asked the task force members for concerns regarding incorporating this compliance model into the report they will give to Governor Fletcher.
· Mike Haney stated that it appears that this compliance model has been adapted from the federal model for nursing homes and hospitals. Mr. Haney mentioned that, unless areas of compliance are specifically detailed, there would be a lot of room for debate.
· Mrs. Minger asked for everyone to look over the model again and send her comments, concerns, etc.
· Barbara Pauley asked Mrs. Minger when the compliance model was passed in New York and if there had been any findings or reports since then. Mrs. Minger said that she would find out the exact date that it was passed and get any results to the members. She said that there have been no reports about the outcome or results of these laws thus far.
· Mr. Haney wanted to know if the maximum severity for non-compliance would be a one-day abatement (one day in which to fix the severe violation).
· Mrs. Minger pointed out that this compliance model gives plenty of opportunities for the universities to comply with safety regulations prior to handing down penalties. She also pointed out that if the universities are penalized, they have an opportunity to recoup some of the penalties (funds).
· Mrs. Minger asked the task force to discuss the recommendation for a post-secondary safety agency. Mrs. Minger has several recommendations, including looking to the Kentucky Center for School Safety for a model. She mentioned that some people have even suggested that a post-secondary agency be attached to the KCSS.
· Jon Akers said that the development of an agency should be addressed with the Council on Post-Secondary Education. The KCSS has a model that can be adapted for any educational level; however, he does not envision a post-secondary agency or group attaching onto this center. Mr. Akers did agree that the post-secondary community would benefit from a single source to refer to for information and a clearinghouse for resources.
· Mrs. Minger mentioned that people suggested attaching this proposed group onto KCSS to be less legislatively cumbersome.
· Mr. Akers stated that his agency (KCSS) can certainly help with networking and resources, but does not have the funding to assume an entirely new division.
· Mrs. Minger asked if Mr. Akers could provide a model of his agency for the task force members to look at and consider for the report.
· Mr. Akers suggested that we look at the model along with CPE. Mr. Akers also pointed out that the role of the board of directors for his agency is to know the budget and work plan, advise and have enforcement capabilities.
· Mr. Akers also mentioned that this group should be a regulatory authority that can require a response to safety findings.
· Mrs. Minger gave a report on the meeting that was held regarding educational strategies. She said that the issue of education keeps coming up as a way to combat some of the problems with safety. It was discussed that the educational efforts, much like everything else, need to be layered. At the education meeting, it was determined that outreach efforts should be in various forms.
· Mrs. Minger announced the Web address for the task force. She asked to be contacted if anyone has ideas about what to include on the Web site.
· Bill Payne introduced Megan Pool, a student who was visiting, to give testimony at the meeting.
· Megan began by telling the members that she was sexually assaulted nine months ago while a student at Murray State University. She presented the process she went through during the aftermath of her assault. After revealing the details of the judicial process she went through, she told the task force that her reason for being there was to point out the problems with the sexual assault policies at all Kentucky schools.
· After hearing Megan’s testimony and asking several questions, Sharon LaRue from the University of Louisville’s PEACC program (a program put in place to end campus violence against women), commented that Megan should have been provided an advocate immediately after her assault. She stated that Megan’s situation is the perfect example of why there needs to be sexual policies across the board for all Kentucky universities.
· Mrs. Minger stated that when drafting the task force report, Sharon LaRue and Dorothy Edwards from the University of Kentucky would be looked to for help with sexual assault policy information and recommendations.
· Mrs. Minger informed the task force that Ed Sergent and Teresa Barton have been working on a draft of the report. Keith Kappes, a visitor from Morehead State University, asked Mrs. Minger if she plans to place the report draft on the Campus Safety Web site. Mrs. Minger said that she will discuss that with the task force members.
· The meeting concluded. The next meeting will be June 19 at 1 p.m.