Last fall, RWC Behavioral Science Professor Dr. Edie Fisher began two student support groups, one for victims of sexual assault and another for those dealing with relationship issues like domestic abuse. The University of Cincinnati administration, upon hearing about these support groups, decided Dr. Fisher was not adequately credentialed to head the groups and chose to shut them down immediately.This decision has affected many at RWC, both students and faculty. Dr. Fisher maintains that she was not counseling students (something that would require her to be a licensed counselor) but merely lending a supportive ear.
“They really just needed someone to hear their story, to tell them that what happened was not their fault,” said Dr. Fisher. “As a sexual assault survivor, you tend to feel like you’re the only one who’s ever gone through it. Even if you know in your head that you are not, in your heart you feel like you’re the only one; you feel alone. One of the key things to surviving sexual assault is not just knowing, but feeling, that you’re not alone.” By bringing suffering students together in a group, she felt that she could show students they truly were not alone.
Right now, with her contract coming up for renewal and, additionally, facing immediate job dismissal if she counsels another student, Dr. Fisher is undoubtedly in an uncertain position.
The Dean of the College, Dr. Don O’Meara, stresses that the University is not against support groups. “In no way is RWC against support groups–or counseling–as long as they exist under the University’s legal guidelines,” he said. “We are all very concerned with students’ well-being.” He explained further that a support group led by an unlicensed counselor is not covered by UC’s insurance, has too many potential legal liabilities, and could possibly do more harm than good.
Dr. Lynn Ritchey, Head of the RWC Behavioral Science Department, stated in an email to the faculty at RWC that the Behavioral Science Department did not support Dr. Fisher’s student support groups. When contacted by the Activist staff, Dr. Ritchey declined to comment any further on the issue.
Student response has been largely supportive of Dr. Fisher. Several hundred students at the College, under the guidance of Preston Koning, the self-appointed Student Support Coordinator (though not an RWC student) and a longtime friend of Dr. Fisher, have signed a support letter calling for her reappointment. The letter, written by Mr. Koning, speaks highly of Dr. Fisher’s dedication to her students and the University, and encourages UC to renew her contract.
“I cannot be silent,” said Mr. Koning. “I am 100 percent committed to supporting Dr. Fisher and seeing this injustice addressed and rectified.”
RWC student Donna Green, acting as student representative, has been bringing the letter around campus for students to sign. “So far, we have between 300-400 signatures,” said Ms. Green. “And that is only from three days [January 25-27].”
It is planned that the support letter and all the student signatures will be sent to UC’s President, Gregory Williams. Ms. Green claims there is an official investigation concerning Dr. Fisher, and Dean O’Meara would neither confirm nor deny this. Because of the alleged investigation, the student support movement has been put on hold, at least for now, so as not to interfere with the investigation.
Both Dean O’Meara and Assistant Dean Pam Lineback have spoken to the UC Women’s Center (located on the main campus in Clifton) about working with RWC to provide more psychological counseling for students. “There appears to be a need for this type of support and we are working to insure students have easier access to qualified help,” said Dean Lineback. Student Services at RWC currently refers students to the Women’s Center (if they have health insurance through UC) or will work with the student’s health insurance provider to set up professional counseling or support.
Look for the next issue of the Activist for more information regarding this story.