Maggie Wetter, Title IX deputy coordinator, stepped down her position at Ithaca College. The search for a new deputy coordinator is ongoing, Title IX Coordinator Linda Koenig said.
The search is currently being conducted internally in the Division of Human and Legal Resources, but it will become an external search if a candidate is not found promptly, Koenig said. There is no timeline currently available for when the position will be filled, Koenig said. The job, created in July 2018, is a support staff position in the Title IX office to help Koenig with the increasing workload because more students have filed reports to Title IX in recent academic years, Koenig said. In the interim, Koenig said, members of the Sexual Violence Prevention Committee are helping her provide prevention training on campus, task that was previously Wetter’s responsibility.
On-campus rape cases increased from eight in 2016 to 13 in 2018. Similarly, domestic violence cases increased from zero in 2016 to six in 2018, as previously reported by The Ithacan. This trend has persisted in recent years.
Wetter, who held the deputy coordinator position for approximately two years, joined the Title IX office at SUNY Cortland. Wetter said she was responsible for coordinating Title IX training for campus officials, conducting Title IX investigations and making sure the office was in compliance with Title IX state and federal laws.
“I have valued my time in the Title IX office at Ithaca College and developed a passion for this work,” Wetter said via email.
Koenig said the deputy will complete investigations into sexual misconduct and assault when they are requested by the reporting party or when the Title IX office determines that an investigation should be conducted.
“The office is looking for a candidate who has experience with campus education and programming as well as someone who has the skills to connect interpersonally with people,” Koenig said.
Koenig said she worked very closely with Wetter to develop new approaches to outreach and education on campus.
Senior Alexandra Coburn, president of Ithaca College Feminists United, has worked closely with the Title IX office. She said she believes that it is critical for the college to have a stable staff in the Title IX office.
“Every campus’ Title IX office is providing a service that is so important, especially in the political era that we’re in now,” Coburn said.
