Students Gather Support For Professor Edie Fisher
Baihley Grandison
Issue date: 2/8/10 Section: News
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.
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.
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