THE
NORTHWEST MISSOURIAN
V90 | N6
Thursday | October 2, 2014
Tough talks
SHAWNA KINGSTON | NW MISSOURIAN
Campuses across the nation become potentially dangerous places for students during the first three months of the fall semester as they find themselves in new, vulnerable situations.
University officials try to keep dialogue open during critical time for students LAUREN MCCOY Managing Editor| @McCoy014
A
s October begins, the universal excitement for homecoming, Halloween, football games, bonfires and other typical fall activities creeps in. Among this anticipation, something scarier lurks beneath the vibrant campus atmosphere. The ‘red zone’ is a term university officials across the nation are quickly becoming more familiar with. The red zone, as defined by an article in the
New York Times, is the “period of vulnerability for sexual assaults, beginning when freshman first walk onto campus until Thanksgiving break.” Vice President of Student Affairs, Matt Baker, who also serves as the University’s Title IX coordinator, discussed the difficulties of educating students about this critical period in their college experience. “In my experience, students don’t want to be trained on this,” he said. “They don’t want to sit through a presentation. They don’t want to think about their behavior. They
don’t want to think it’s going to happen to them. I know students who, after some critical event happens, thinks ‘I should have paid attention.’ Nobody wants the training, until they wanted it yesterday.” As an institution, Northwest walks a “hard line,” according to Baker. “We’re not parents. We don’t sit there and say, ‘You’ve got to be back by 10:00, don’t drink, wear your seatbelt … ’ At the same time, we want students to be ready for what hits them,” he explained.
SEE RED ZONE | A5
Federal law continues fight against discrimination with mandatory training DARCIE BRADFORD Chief Reporter| @Darcie_Jeanne_7
In order to enroll in the spring semester, students must participate in a mandatory online training session about sexual assault and the Univer-
sity’s Title IX policy. Title IX is a federal law that prohibits any form of gender based discrimination, including sexual assault, harassment and sexual violences or crimes. Students and faculty are required
to participate in training about Title IX due to a change in law that requires every University receiving federal funding to provide mandatory training for students and faculty.
SEE TITLE IX | A5
1in5
women are victims of sexual assault during college
350
Northwest students could be affected by sexual assault in a fouryear college career
50%
of assaults occur during the red zone
Campus stabbing ruled ‘self-defense’ by Nodaway Co. prosecutor JAMES HENDERSON III Chief Reporter | @jendersoniii
With the facts in and questions asked, the case of the stabbing that occurred on Northwest’s campus on Sept. 3 has been sent to the desk of Nodaway County Prosecuting Attorney Robert Rice, for interpretation.
Rice filed for a misdemeanor third-degree assault charge against Deandre Nichols, 21, for his part in the fight. However, he allowed Demetrius Boone, 21, to be free of charges, citing his stabbing as “lawful self defense.” “The evidence is beyond a reasonable doubt that Nichols attempted
to cause physical harm by punching Boone about the face,” Rice said. Originally both students had been issued summons. Boone was taken to Nodaway County Jail and held for the night, and part of the next day. He was then released and awaited the decision by Rice. With the decision not to prosecute behind him,
toga PARTY
Boone would “step around the corner to visit.” Nichols was escorted from the building. Later that day, Boone said he went down to throw out his trash in the dump when a second fight started.
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Boone was allowed back to classes and is back on campus, according to University Police. According to a document from the office of Rice, Boone said he went to the front desk of South Complex to attempt to ban someone from the building when the argument started. Nichols approached and asked if
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SEE STABBING | A5