TKU has made a stand on sexual abuse or harassment cases on campus—a zero tolerance. It was exemplified by the dismissal of a professor who was found guilty of taking advantages of his female students. When one of his victims decided to report him, his case was brought to the Committee for Gender Equalization Education (CGEE), who found his behavior unethical and in violation of teacher-student custodian relationship after a careful investigation. According to Mr. Chiang Ding-an, the Director of the Office of Student Affairs, the decision of dismissal resulted from a fair and just deliberation by all members on the Committee. The university would always do her best to investigate the truth regardless who are involved in the case, he stressed.

Mr. Chiang also encourages students to stand up and report any abuse or harassment case to the Counseling Section (CS) without fear of retaliation. He guarantees safe and sensitive handling of any case that comes to his office. When the accusation is found to be well-grounded, an investigation will be underway within three days by the CGEE. The Committee practices the principle of “innocent until proven guilty,” and will thus give plaintiffs and defenders bother a fair chance of presenting their side of the story respectively. All names and personal information will be kept confidential throughout the entire process.

Thanks to this unprecedented dismissal, Mr. Chiang urges students to have faith in the system which will protect the innocent and bring justice to the victims. When experiencing sexual abuse or harassment, the wisest way, he said, is not to run away by pretending it did not occur. This passive behavior will only encourage the perpetrator to see it as an acceptance to his or her aggression. For one’s safety, and that of others, Mr. Chiang wants victims to stand up and speak up.

Victims can fill in a sexual harassment complaint form provided by the CS on its website, or send an e-mail to “Help-me Mailbox” or “Mental Health Gymnastic.” All forms and mails with be referred to experts and dealt with high confidentiality. Complaints can also be filed by victims’ confidants such as teachers or close friends on their behalf. Above all, a campus-wide cooperation in fighting gender discrimination is vital and urgent. Through which, a truly equalization education environment at TKU can be established. ( ~Ying-hsueh Hu)