Harassment and Whistle-Blowing, insight from ESF's Title IX Coordinator

Rebecca Hoda-Kearse, Title IX coordinator at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF), spoke to the graduate student seminar “Perspectives on Career and Gender” on March 8, 2022 to start the conversation of harassment and whistle-blowing that face all institutions. Hoda-Kearse spoke about how Title IX is used to prevent gender discrimination, which states that “on the basis of sex” no person shall be discriminated against from any educational programs. She continued to talk about other grounds harassment may start on such as quid pro quo in unequal power differences. Under her facilitation, students shared experiences that happened to themselves or others they know that had experienced harassment or discrimination. All students and facilitators were able to recall at least one moment of harassment. 

SUNY ESF has many options for reporting Title IX violations. This can be done by talking directly to
Hoda-Kearse or virtually though the “Resilient Oaks App" or at https://www.esf.edu/ide/bias.htm. Reporters can remain anonymous.  

Hoda-Kearse is the Title IX Coordinator and Affirmative Action Officer at SUNY ESF, overseeing Title IX issues and reporting for the campus as well as discrimination related complaints including sexual harassment. She works closely with many offices including the offices of Student Life, Human Resources, and Inclusion, Diversity and Equity.

Note:  Hoda-Kearse's was promoted to ESF's inagural Executive People Officer very soon after this presentation!  ESF's Title IX responsibilities remain under this umbrella, but Kerrie Findlay is Interim Affirmative Action Officer, serving in that capacity in addition to their duties in International Education.  Read more about this new campus position at https://www.esf.edu/communications/view2.asp?newsID=9974.

As part of the course requirements for FOR797 Perspectives on Career and Gender, students share  responsibility of reporting on class discussions as well as on the speakers in the campus-wide Women in Scientific and Environmental Professions Speaker Series.  The preceding was prepared by Katie McLaughlin, Sustainable Resources Management, M.S. May 2023.