EOI & TITLE IX GUIDANCE: September 2022
VOL. 3 , ISSUE 2
SEPTEMBER 2022
Top Stories in this Issue
HOW TO FIND DIVERSE CANDIDATES
EOI is often asked for assistance with finding diverse candidates for positions. The assistance is in two parts: (1) Where to find the diverse candidates, and (2) How to fund the search.
Where to find Diverse Candidates?
The answer to that question will depend on the academic discipline or the department of the university. EOI publishes a Diversity Recruitment Guide that can provide some insight to places to advertise that will get your job posting in front of diverse candidates. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call extension 2507.
Don’t Forget Veterans and Persons with Disabilities!
Most of the time when EOI is asked the question about finding diverse candidates it is regarding minority candidates. EOI wants all departments to remember that the federal government REQUIRES organizations that receive federal funds to have recruitment plans for veterans and for persons with disabilities also. Make sure that your recruitment plans for the 2022-2023 academic year include a structured plan for recruitment in these areas specifically. At a minimum, publish your job postings to a job board or a publication that serves these two populations. Then, make sure that you document the search, so that you can show auditors your attempts to reach these populations.
How to Fund the Search
As this is a recurring business expense, departments should earmark money in the individual budgets to cover the costs of recruiting. Many job boards allow postings at no cost. In addition, the Provost’s Office and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion have some funds for this purpose. You will need to contact the individual offices to determine the procedures and qualifications for accessing the funds.
Don’t forget another free resource -- your colleagues at other institutions, particularly institutions that serve underrepresented populations. Sometimes asking them to help you spread the word about an open position will help generate quality leads for candidates you otherwise would not have access to contact.
LinkedIn is another professional source to use. Post the link to the job application to your personal page and ask colleagues to share it with their networks.
STALKING
The Department of Justice defines “Stalking” as “a pattern of repeated and unwanted attention, harassment, contact, or any other course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear.” Similar to crimes of sexual violence, stalking is about power and control.
"Stalking" may cause a reasonable person to:
- fear for his or her safety or the safety of others; or
- suffer substantial emotional distress.
How does Stalking look?
You may be a victim of stalking if someone:
- Subjects you to unwelcome communications, including repeatedly calling your phone, including hang-ups;
- Sends unwanted gifts, letters, texts, or emails;
- Follows you and shows up wherever you are;
- Damages your home, car, or other property;
- Monitors your phone calls or computer use, possibly through spyware;
- Uses technology, like hidden cameras or global positioning systems (GPS), to track where you go;
- Drives by or lingers near your home, school, or work;
- Repeats physical or visual closeness, like waiting for someone to arrive at certain locations, following someone, or watching someone from a distance;
- Threatens to hurt you, your family, friends, or pets;
- Performs other actions that control, track, or frighten you;
- Uses other people to try to communicate with you, like children, family, or friends;
- Any other behavior used to contact, harass, track, or threaten someone.
In addition to fear, the experience of being stalked may lead to other reactions such as feeling anxious, nervous, isolated, stressed, or developing signs of depression.
"Cyberstalk" means to engage in a course of conduct to communicate, or to cause to be communicated, words, images, or language by or through the use of electronic mail or electronic communication, directed at a specific person, causing substantial emotional distress to that person, serves no legitimate purpose, and would cause a reasonable person to feel fear.
If you feel that you are being stalked or cyberstalked, please save any evidence that you have including text messages, social media posts, photos, etc. They may be useful in meeting our standard of proof – preponderance of the evidence, or more likely than not. Remember, documentation is your best friend.
caption: Victims usually know their stalker. 75% of stalking victims know their stalker. 66% of female stalking victims were stalked by current or former intimate partners.
ON-LINE DATING
Interacting with strangers through dating apps can put you at risk for identity theft, online harassment, and financial scams. If you decide to meet up in person, there’s a chance you could find yourself in physical danger. While you are never responsible for the predatory or disrespectful behavior of others, there are things you can do to protect yourself when interacting with strangers.
Remember, in order for EOI to conduct an investigation, some basic information will be needed, including the first and last name of the person involved in the reported behavior. Research people you meet online before you meet them in person.
Sign-up Process
The more causal dating sites do not require much information to create a profile. The safest dating apps require additional steps to verify or authenticate your account information. Generally, the longer the sign-up process, the fewer fake accounts that will be on the app.
Ability to Block Accounts
Does your dating app allow the ability to block and/or report suspicious accounts? Although the terms may differ, the safer dating sites tend to allow you to “remove” or “unmatch” someone that generally equates to blocking them from interacting with you and your information.
Geography Settings
Many dating apps use your location but that is something that strangers should not have access to about you. Check to see if geography settings are on the site and if you are able to disconnect them.
Choice of Photo
Google provides the ability to conduct a reverse image search with photos. Do not use the same photo for a dating app that you use for your other social media sites, i.e., Facebook, Instagram. You don’t want to make it easy for someone to find your other social media accounts.
Communicating with Potential Dates
Use the dating apps messaging system. DO NOT send text messages from your personal cell phone. DO NOT provide your telephone number. Set up an alternate phone number like a Google Voice phone number to use just for online dating purposes.
Meeting in Person
ALWAYS meet in a public place and never meet at your home or dorm. Make sure you drive your own car so that you have transportation if you need to leave. DO NOT consume alcohol with this person.
Notify Friends of Your Location
ALWAYS let someone know where you are going and who you are going to meet. Ask someone to check in on you to make sure you are not in danger and create a safe word to indicate that there is an issue.
Self-Defense
Arm yourself with a taser or pepper spray and have it a place where it can be easily reached.
For more information on how to protect yourself while participating in Online Dating and while using Dating Apps, please refer to these safety tips from the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), an anti-sexual violence organization.
There have been a lot of conversations regarding House Bill 7 and what it means for public universities. The Office of Faculty Excellence has a webpage devoted to the topic that includes a question answer section. Please visit https://www.unf.edu/ofe/HB7.html for more information.
UPCOMING TRAINING COURSES: FALL 2022
You may register for classes through CPDT
Monday, October 10, 2022 from 2:00 - 3:00 pm - Responsible Employee
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 from 10:00 - 11:00 am - EOI and You
INVESTIGATIONS
Total EOI Investigations
| 124 | |
| 120 |
Current EOI Investigations
| Total Investigations | 46 |
| Cases Opened in August | 16 |
| Cases Closed in August | 11 |
| Referred to DOS | 0 |
*As of August 31, 2022
**Note: Cases involving students must be closed by EOI before it can be referred to DOS.
EOI Office Staff Directory
Director and Title IX Coordinator
Marlynn Jones, Esquire
Marlynn.jones@unf.edu
Title IX and Civil Rights Investigator and Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Fantei Norman
Fantei.norman@unf.edu
EOI Investigator
Leslie Hicks
Leslie.Hicks@unf.edu
EOI Coordinator
Vacant