Content Warning: The following story includes references to sexual assault and violence.
The USC Administration held an online webinar Tuesday night in response to recent allegations of druggings and sexual assaults on fraternity row. The university webinar was an abrupt change from the in-person public forum that was originally to be hosted by the Undergraduate Student Government.
USG initially invited students to a 2-hour town hall meeting Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. that would include presentations by USG and USC administration, as well as an opportunity for students to communicate directly with university leaders.
An hour and a half before the scheduled meeting, Provost Dr. Charles F. Zukoski changed the format of the forum, claiming the webinar was more conducive to privacy for students who did not wish to share their identities while talking about their experiences.
“We were hearing from a variety of students that this topic is challenging to discuss, amongst others uncomfortable talking about it in public and the public format,” said Dr. Monique Allard, the Senior Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs during the webinar. “So we were looking forward to a format which can be limited to just the USC community. We look forward to continued conversation with our student leaders.”
The webinar was unaffiliated with USG and the Student Coalition Against Sexual Violence. Top university officials selected student questions to answer from a list on Zoom and a Google form provided ahead of the webinar, a marked difference from the more personal town hall USG had initially envisioned.
They said in a statement on Instagram ahead of the USC town hall that they were disheartened at losing the town hall space to hear student feedback.
“We believe this discussion is instrumentally important and strive to emphasize the values of transparency and inclusiveness in addressing the issue of sexual violence,” they said following the Provost’s email announcing the transition to a webinar format.
The virtual town hall meeting occurred in response to an influx in reports of sexual assault and drugging at USC fraternity functions. The university received between five and seven reports of possible drugging sexual assault in late September, according to an email to students from USC President Carol Folt.
Folt noted the delay between the initial reports and information shared with the USC community through a DPS email which many members of the student body and greater community found troubling.
“This has highlighted for me the gray area in our processes when reports come into RSVP, and the challenge of marrying a highly confidential support service, which may have limited details, with the need to inform and warn the community,” Folt said in a letter to the USC community on Oct. 29.
USG released a list of demands, directed at university administration, to the USC community Oct. 27. They demanded the suspect be expelled and the university’s chapter of Sigma Nu be dissolved as well as more sexual assault prevention initiatives, support and resources be made available to students.