Sexual misconduct complaints jump 68 percent in 2016 at the University of Tennessee

Reports of sexual misconduct at the University of Tennessee Knoxville jumped 68 percent from 2015 to 2016, with 38 complaints reported in 2015 compared to 64 in 2016, according to a newly released report from the university.

The 64 reports made by students in 2016 include 50 reports of sexual assault, three reports of sexual harassment, three reports of sexual exploitation and eight reports that were unclassified.

Additional data includes stalking

For the first time this year, the report also includes additional data on relationship violence and stalking, with a combined 39 reports made in 2016.

The data was released Wednesday as part of an annual report UT has prepared each year since 2015 detailing reports of sexual misconduct occurring both on and off campus and reported by students. 

Officials at UT said the rise in complaints this year reflects increased educational efforts and training around sexual misconduct, rather than a rise in violence on campus. 

"People are more aware not only of the policy but the process of how to report," said Jenny Richter, Title IX coordinator for the University of Tennessee Knoxville and associate vice chancellor and director of the Office of Equity and Diversity. "More of our faculty and staff, when they receive these kinds of reports, know what to do. I think students, as they become more aware of the processes and procedures, are more comfortable figuring out what avenues they have to report." 

UT committed an additional $700,000 and added six positions around prevention, education and investigation efforts in 2016, a plan that was announced after the university settled a $2.48 million lawsuit accusing it of fostering a "hostile sexual environment" in violation of Title IX. 

Seventh hire on hold

The plan originally called for seven positions to be funded by the university and a federal grant, but Richter said plans are on hold at the moment for the seventh hire. "It's one of the areas that we're trying to review, is whether that would be an appropriate addition in these Title IX efforts," Richter said. "The door is not closed." 

More than 6,000 new students went through orientation sessions addressing consent, bystander initiative and alcohol in 2016, and more than 900 new employees also went through similar orientations, according to the report.  

This is the third year UT has released data on sexual misconduct dating back to 2011.

In about half of the reports made in 2016, the person accused of the misconduct was unknown or could not be identified, limiting UT's ability to pursue disciplinary action. Thirteen cases were resolved with limited action by the university at the request of the complainant; while complainants declined to move forward with resolution in seven cases. 

In six cases, the university found no violation of its sexual misconduct policy. In two cases, people were found guilty of violating the policy. Resolution in three cases is pending following disciplinary hearings.

A more complete picture

Richter said the university decided this year to also release information on relationship violence and stalking to provide a more complete picture of issues that fall under UT's sexual misconduct policy. 

"It's important to educate the community and let them know not just what’s going on but what their rights and responsibilities are and how they can help," Richter said. "I think it's important to put those terms out there and let students see that while their situation may not involve the type of sexual violence people traditionally think of, they may still have something that needs to be addressed." 

The increase in reports accompanies a rise in federal Title IX complaints at UT, which more than doubled across the UT system in fiscal year 2016, and which officials in January also attributed to a rise in education and training efforts. The system is also currently under review by an independent commission appointed by President Joe DiPietro in September to look at Title IX compliance at each school.

A report on the commission's findings is expected to be released in the coming weeks and could mean more changes for UT Knoxville when it comes to education and prevention efforts. 

The university in 2016 reported a rise in actions taken to support students who make sexual misconduct complaints, reporting 124 instances of interim measures, or actions taken to support students who make complaints, in 2016, compared to 94 in 2015, a growth of about 32 percent. 

"When you’re taking an issue like this and you have the level of commitment we have you will see a growth in reporting," said Ashley Blamey, director of UT's Center for Health Education and Wellness. "We should also see a growth in student awareness of our policies, of prevention efforts, of bystander training and those are issues we’re working on actively."