WPBS Presents One-Hour 'Public Eye' Special Edition on April 13

POTSDAM, NY (04/10/2015)(readMedia)-- WPBS, the two-nation public broadcasting station will air a special one-hour broadcast, "Public Eye Special Edition with Jeff Cole: Title IX: Sexual Harassment in Colleges," on Monday, April 13, at 10 p.m., and again on Sunday, April 19, at 8 a.m. Viewers will also have the opportunity to watch this special edition of "Public Eye" online, at watch.wpbstv.org, after the broadcast.

Host Jeff Cole will take an in-depth look at the issues of sexual assault on college and university campuses as well as the new state rules and federal Title IX regulations that are changing the way higher educational institutions handle sexual assault cases, including those at the four Associated Colleges of the St. Lawrence Valley: Clarkson University, St. Lawrence University, SUNY Canton and SUNY Potsdam.

Viewers will first hear from college faculty and administrators about the steps they are taking to prevent sexual assaults on their campuses in the first place and what they are doing to handle cases of sexual assault once they are brought forward by a victim. The discussion will help viewers understand how victims are in charge of the investigation process, why sexual assault cases don't immediately go to the local police, and what steps colleges and universities must take under the law to process sexual assault cases and mitigate the potential for contact between the victim and the accused.

Viewers will also hear from a panel of representatives that will dissect the issue even further and respond directly to questions about the topic of sexual assault in a college setting.

Dr. Kristin G. Esterberg is the new president of SUNY Potsdam. While she is a relative newcomer to the North Country, and new to SUNY, she was appointed last fall by SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher to SUNY's Sexual Assault Prevention Workgroup, which led to the adoption of a comprehensive system-wide uniform sexual assault policy for all 64 SUNY campuses.

With more than 18 years of experience as a campus safety officer, Pat Gagnon is St. Lawrence University's director for Safety and Security. As head of the department, he has the responsibility of aiding and assisting campus investigations as well as working closely with local law enforcement agencies to help prevent crime on campus. As a result, Gagnon has had to investigate a number of sexual assault reports, all of which, he says, can have their own unique challenges.

Finally, Caitlin Hill is a legal advocate for the St. Lawrence Valley Renewal House, a local organization based in St. Lawrence County that responds to the needs of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Renewal House staff and volunteers who receive regular sexual training often work with the Associated Colleges member campuses to provide resources to victims of sexual violence and sexual assault.

This Special Edition of Public Eye with Jeff Cole is sponsored in part by AAUW, District 7.

About Clarkson University:

Clarkson University launches leaders into the global economy. One in five alumni already leads as a CEO, VP or equivalent senior executive of a company. Located just outside the Adirondack Park in Potsdam, N.Y., Clarkson is a nationally recognized research university for undergraduates with select graduate programs in signature areas of academic excellence directed toward the world's pressing issues. Through 50 rigorous programs of study in engineering, business, arts, sciences and the health professions, the entire learning-living community spans boundaries across disciplines, nations and cultures to build powers of observation, challenge the status quo, and connect discovery and engineering innovation with enterprise. For more, see www.clarkson.edu.

About St. Lawrence University:

Founded in 1856, St. Lawrence University is a private, independent liberal arts institution of about 2,500 students located in Canton, New York. The educational opportunities at St. Lawrence inspire students and prepare them to be critical and creative thinkers, to find a compass for their lives and careers, and to pursue knowledge and understanding for the benefit of themselves, humanity and the planet. Through its focus on active engagement with ideas in and beyond the classroom, a St. Lawrence education leads students to make connections that transform lives and communities, from the local to the global. Visit www.stlawu.edu.

About SUNY Canton:

SUNY Canton is Northern New York's premier college for career-driven bachelor's degrees, associate degrees and certificate programs. The college delivers quality hands-on programs in engineering technology, health, management and public service. Faculty members are noted for their professional real-world experience in addition to outstanding academic credentials. SUNY Canton OnLine offers hundreds of flexible and convenient courses, as well as 10 exclusively online bachelor's degrees. The college's 14 athletic teams compete as provisional members of the NCAA Division III and the USCAA. For more information, visit www.canton.edu.

About SUNY Potsdam:

Founded in 1816, and located on the outskirts of the beautiful Adirondack Park, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges. SUNY Potsdam currently enrolls approximately 4,300 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its handcrafted education, challenging liberal arts and sciences core, excellence in teacher training and leadership in the performing and visual arts. Find out more at www.potsdam.edu.

About WPBS-DT:

WPBS-TV is a non-profit public television station serving approximately 650,000 households throughout Northern New York and Eastern Ontario. WPBS-TV's mission is to educate, entertain and inform our two-nation audience through superior local and national content and media engagement in order to enhance the lives of those it serves. More information about WPBS is available at www.wpbstv.org, or by following WPBS on Twitter and Facebook.

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