Passed February, 24th 2022

A Resolution Supporting Implementation of the Sexual Assault Anonymous Reporting System Callisto at Yale University

Whereas the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) represents the interests of the Graduate and Professional (G&P) student community at Yale University; and,

Whereas according to the Yale Association of American Universities’ (AAU) 2019 Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and Misconduct^[1], 18.1 percent of survey respondents reported experiencing nonconsensual penetration or sexual touching; and,

Whereas only 25.5 percent of aforementioned survey respondents who reported experiencing nonconsensual penetration or sexual touching reported their experience to a campus program or resource; and,

Whereas the percent of AAU survey respondents who reported experiencing sexually harrassing behavior, intimate partner violence, and stalking who reported their experience to a campus program or resource are only 15.6, 22.9, and 34.9, respectively; and,

Whereas the formal nature of existing University-Wide Committee on Sexual Misconduct (UWC)^[2] procedures creates barriers to reporting; and,

Whereas when students do choose to pursue formal processes, such processes prevent the aggregation of misconduct claims against a single alleged perpetrator, making action against serial predators difficult;^[3] and,

Whereas campus sexual assault anonymous reporting systems allow university affiliates to file reports of sexual misconduct without filing a formal Title IX report. Such systems can encourage students who might not otherwise do so to submit reports; and,

Whereas Yale University does not have a sexual assault anonymous reporting system; and,

Whereas Callisto^[4] is a third-party sexual assault anonymous reporting system that connects survivors reporting to have been assaulted by the same person and allows them to connect with each other, support each other, and pursue action in tandem; and,

Whereas Callisto provides survivors of potential serial predators with an overview of their legal options, which can help them make informed decisions about coming forward publicly; and,

Whereas several peer institutions of Yale University including Stanford University, Indiana University, and Pomona College are already using Callisto;

Whereas Callisto is of no cost to students or Yale University but requires a showing of student support for implementation;

…

Therefore, be it resolved that GPSS as an organization affirms its support of the implementation of Callisto;

Therefore, be it further resolved that GPSS asks Callisto to implement usage of its application for Yale University students;