I want to step in on this. The current controversy should be part of the dialogue and a consideration point for students making college decisions. Especially if a student is interested in the BCS (brain and cognitive science) graduate program. Less so for undergrads, especially if BCS is not a core interest. (It hasn’t affected my daughter’s experience at all, except insofar as she has been involved in peaceful protests on campus.)
I see the controversy as illustrating both strengths and weaknesses of UR. The top administration’s reaction to the issue deserves censure. And I expect some changes in the near future. BUT what shouldn’t be forgotten is the bravery and integrity of the seven BCS faculty members who put their jobs on the line when they filed an EEOC complaint. Or the way the students and other faculty mounted a strong but peaceful protest of administration that resulted in a reassessment of the complaint that is currently underway. The slogan adopted by the protestors, “If you love something, you hold it accountable,” summed up the “Rochester way” for me quite well. So, while it’s not something that should be ignored, I think it’s important to view it in context—sexual harassment and the tendency of those in power to try to cover it up are not problems unique to UR. And they are in the process of addressing those problems right now…hopefully in a way that will win-back the trust of colleagues, parents, students, and the public at large.
Another article about the letter–
As a father with a daughter who is interested in STEM, this disturbs me greatly.
This is not a problem specific to Rochester. In fact, it’s pervasive in higher education. Similar stories have come out recently (this week, in fact) at Dartmouth and UW-Madison, for instance. It’s right to be disturbed. But not just for students at Rochester. And not just in STEM. And not just for daughters.
This is also being discussed on the parent forum.
Add Boston University
https://www.bu.edu/today/2017/investigation-finds-evidence-sexual-harassment/
If you look at the other URochester thread, you can find info on a source that tracks mentions of harrassment at colleges in news sources, and has 571 examples (and those are just the ones that made the news – there are tons that either are never complained about because the victim fears retaliation, or they complain and the university sweeps it under the rug). URochester is definitely not alone.
Here is that other thread:
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/2034435-rochester-turmoil-p1.html
I would like to make a short statement as well. I am currently a student at the University of Rochester. It so happens the national news media placed the UofR in the spotlight. There are so many other universities with sexual harassment cases that have not been nationally recognized.
I can name a few institutions from the top of my head: Boston University, Columbia University, and Ramapo College. I heard about the cases through my friends who attend the institutions stated above.
We have researched this a lot and Rochester is still my daughter’s top choice and I support her in that decision. As a young women looking to get in the STEM field this is going to be an issue and the reality is what is going has created an environment for change and put the school’s issues in the spotlight. I would prefer this over a school still hiding the truth and not being willing to react and drive change.
My issue was more on the response of the college and seeming lack of action but hoping things will get addressed and some positive changes in policy and culture will come from this.
Hi…was reading issues posted above which is 2017 so now we r in 2018 what are the change’s made to improvise? My son will b joining fall 2018. Pls advise
The president of the university resigned and there is a spotlight on the school’ administration to live up to the image that they promote. I will say that while the administrations handling of the Jaeger complaint was egregious, my daughter has found the university to pretty much live up to her expectations at every level—flexible curriculum, plentiful undergrad research opportunities, approachable faculty, collaborative and inclusive student body, easily do-able travel abroad, etc. While she found the “cover-up” mentality demonstrated with regard to the complaint, it was not something that had any effect on her own life at the university either directly or indirectly. She’ll graduate in 2019.