Boston Globe’s Coverage of the Academy Questioned
The release of The Boston Globe’s most recent installment in its Spotlight series on sexual misconduct at the Academy has prompted discussion within the community surrounding the accuracy and intention of the article.
The Boston Globe’s “Spotlight” Team released the article, titled “Phillips Exeter Still Reeling from Sexual Abuse Claims,” on Dec. 27. It is the latest of eighteen news and opinions pieces that The Globe has published since late spring of last year, detailing cases of sexual misconduct at the Academy both past and present.
The piece told the stories of two sexual assault survivors who have come forward, reexamined the John Doe case, which was ruled on over a month ago, and the “Do Better Exeter” alumni donation boycott from six months ago, and scrutinized an Exonian’s suicide which occurred over three years ago. The article contained misleading information and omitted relevant facts, raising questions among students, faculty and alumni of the Academy.
“I would love to see students have input into how the Academy is dealing with this issue.”
The Globe brought forth the stories of sexual abuse survivors Cecilia Morgan ‘82 and Beth Solowey ‘77. Morgan recounted her experience as a victim of Rick Schubart’s and talked about the impact the abuse has had on her life, saying “what happened to me 35 years ago has been really devastating.” She explained that she came forward in the hopes of preventing further misconduct. “I want this exposed so that future and current students are protected so that they don’t have to go through this,” she said. Morgan also sought to encourage other survivors to share their stories: “I want to empower people who have been affected by this already to come forward.”
However, Morgan had reservations about the Globe’s execution of the piece, noting how “it was unfortunate that the article was broken down into three different topics that were all covered relatively equally.” Her critique highlighted her confusion about the Globe’s choice to combine several separate stories.
Senior Grace Williams echoed this concern. “I thought a lot of the things that were brought up were unnecessary. It was just used to create another kind of hit on Exeter,” she observed. “I thought that it definitely and purposefully put a bad light on Exeter for things that we have been trying to fix.”
Alumnus Spencer Burleigh ‘15 agreed, describing the piece as “a nasty article - an airing of our dirty laundry in the most public of places.” He remarked on the transformation that he believes has occurred in the intention of the Globe’s coverage, saying “Initially I thought the articles were needed. Exeter dealt incredibly poorly with the most serious of transgressions against the students in its care.” However, Burleigh felt that the Globe’s focus has shifted since its early pieces; “at this point it strikes me that the investigative team is no longer living up to its mission to inform.They seem to be more focused on selling more papers,” he said.
The Boston Globe’s “Spotlight” editor, Scott Allen, defended the Globe’s editorial decisions. “Exeter is not only one of the nation’s leading prep schools,” he stated, “but it’s the only prep school that we know of that has faced such a tumultuous year.” In fact, five cases of sexual misconduct by former teachers at Exeter’s sister school Phillips Academy Andover have recently come to light and were covered by The Globe as recently as August, as well as by The New York Times.
The latest article about Exeter was misleading in several instances. The article presented this past summer’s donation boycott as a new piece of information and associated it with the suicide, which the article described as another of Exeter’s new “revelations.” The Globe claimed that, “A tragic suicide of a student... in 2014 is now raising questions among friends and classmates… The unresolved issues are fueling some to withhold donations from Phillips Exeter.” Although the article referenced the date that the boycott began, the context and presentation made it appear as though the donation campaign was linked to the suicide. Allen defended the decision to include the information, saying, “We briefly referenced the campaign… to [explain] the climate on campus and among Phillips Exeter alumni.”
In actuality, the donation boycott began last summer after Michaella Henry ‘16 came forward to the Globe about her alleged assault, not after the suicide three years ago. Burleigh also picked up on the inconsistency and commented that “Simply restating things already known is not investigative journalism.”
Moreover, in a July 14, 2016 article, the Globe itself wrote, “The campaign to withhold money came after a Boston Globe Spotlight Team report [July 13, 2016] on the recent allegations.”
Over the summer, Exeter hired Interim Directors of Student Safety and Wellbeing Tina Sciocchetti and Jane Stapleton to help advise how to address these issues. Sciocchetti also took issue with the most recent piece. “To the extent the article appeared to suggest the Academy is trying to sweep these issues ‘under the rug’ and not living up to its promises to address issues of sexual misconduct in its history or currently on campus, that is simply not true.” Sciocchetti has collaborated with Stapleton, faculty and the administration to oversee education, training, sexual misconduct reporting and investigation case management responsibilities at the Academy.
Sciocchetti emphasized the school’s focus on student well-being, stating that “Student safety is of primary concern in developing any school policy, on any issue.” She further elaborated that many current school policies are listed in the E-book, addressing issues such as sexual misconduct, the discipline system, mandatory reporting laws and sexual intimacy. Various peer education initiatives, assemblies and health education courses strive to teach students how to handle sexual situations and seek assistance when necessary.
Sciocchetti explained that there are several sexual misconduct policies, both new and old, applicable to faculty and staff, which include a Code of Conduct and zero tolerance policy regarding inappropriate behavior between adults and students. According to the Our Commitment to Safety and Wellbeing page on Exeter’s website, employees are hired only after undergoing thorough background investigations as well as training in the areas of sexual abuse and assault, including their responsibilities to report misconduct cases under state law.
Moreover, the school’s action plan, which can be found online, outlines 22 initiatives that the school has undertaken to improve its handling of sexual misconduct, all of which have been completed or are in progress. Sciocchetti noted, “Our action plan... includes items that are formal and procedural; informal and cultural; generated by administrators, faculty and staff, and students; done in partnership with parents; and where progress can be measured.”
The administration, faculty and various organizations both on and off campus are working together on various projects for the future. The Prevention Innovations Research Center (PIRC) of New Hampshire recently conducted a student survey on campus culture and social norms. The results will be used to develop an effective bystander education program. An improved and more effective visitations policy is in the works, under the collaboration of Student Council, the Center for the Study of Boys’ and Girls’ Lives and the PIRC. Dean of Students Arthur Cosgrove and Stapleton are working to bring back Eric Barthold, a fall term assembly speaker who discussed his project “Man Up and Open Up,” to establish a leadership group trained in facilitating student discussions about consent. The administration and Principal MacFarlane are reviewing the residential life program and working with the Student Council to develop a student advisory group that will meet regularly with the deans to discuss student concerns on campus.
The Globe did not make reference to any of these initiatives in its most recent article.
Despite Exeter’s steps to address past cases and promote awareness on campus, some think that there is still more to be done. Morgan called for the creation of a forum or safe space in which students who had been assaulted or had concerns about sexual misconduct could share their experiences to the administration. She added, “I would love to see students have input into how the Academy is dealing with this issue.”
Student involvement in responding to the incidents of the past year has already had palpable effects on the climate of the school. Exonians Against Student Assault (EASA), a new club founded this year, strives “to start change in the Exeter community amongst the students,” according to board member Williams. EASA is currently organizing meetings between opposite-gender dorms to encourage conversation surrounding the sexual climate at Exeter, gender norms and pressures that students receive from their peers. The club is working to put together a project similar to one called “It Happens Here” at Middlebury College, a student-led initiative to collect and bring awareness to anonymous stories of sexual and relationship violence that have occurred on their campus.
EASA Members have also been collaborating with the administration to create an informational flow chart about relationship violence, sexual assault and available resources at the Academy. The detailed graphic presents several scenarios relating to sexual misconduct that a student may experience on campus. It specifically outlines several resources, both internal and external, that can offer immediate action and aid, as well as long term support. This chart will soon be posted in dorms and various bulletin boards around campus.
Senior Emily Robb, interim president of EASA, believes that “through honest and open discussion, we can find common ground with one another in order to foster a respectful and empowering campus.”
Sciocchetti affirmed, “Ultimately, we are committed to creating an environment where all community members are safe, respected and supported.”
The article also stated that Morgan and Solowey would like the Academy to provide independent therapists for students. Currently the Academy does offer free access to mental health professionals on campus, whose confidential services are available to the entire student body, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Health Counselor and Student Listener Head Constance Morse described the role that her department plays in supporting students on campus. “Our department serves as a very viable and useful resource for students on a wide variety of issues. We are well utilized and although statistics never tell the whole picture, we in general have seen a little over a quarter of the student population over each academic year, with the numbers generally rising.” In addition, Ms. Morse wanted to emphasize that the mental health professionals on campus are available as a resource to everyone for all needs. “We also, in general, and certainly not just in reference to sexual assault prevention, want all students to have a trusted adult with whom they can talk about the complexities of life.”