Anonymous reporting service RealResponse was rolled out on Feb. 17 as the third phase in a plan created by the University of Oregon’s office of Fraternity and Sorority Life in an effort to create safer social events.
RealResponse allows students within the FSL community and beyond to confidentially report hazing incidents, druggings, assault and mental health concerns. Students can report through texting, email or an online portal. It enables students to make a report that will not trigger an official university report. The program is also currently in use in the athletics department.
The $18,000 investment and subsequent rollout of RealResponse comes after several alleged drugging incidents in the winter term of 2024 that placed three fraternities under interim suspension.
Two students were allegedly drugged at a Theta Chi event Jan. 19, 2024 and one at an event on Feb. 2. Phi Delta Theta and Delta Sigma Phi were also placed on an interim suspension for alleged druggings. According to the Greek Conduct Process and Chapter Status Report web page, none of the three fraternities are currently on suspension for drugging-related incidents.
During fall term 2024, there were also reports of unknown substances possibly being added to drinks at an Alpha Tau Omega, Pi Kappa Phi and Lambda Chi Alpha fraternities. Additionally, there was a sexual assault report that could have been related to the drugging report at Pi Kappa Phi.
Following these incidents, the Interfraternity Council and Fraternity and Sorority Life developed a three-phase plan to make social events safer. The investment into RealResponse by the Office of the Dean of Students and the Office of Investigations and Civil Rights Compliance is the third phase.
The first phase included security points such as tighter guidelines on who can distribute alcohol and limiting the number of social events with alcohol to only two per academic term. The second phase included a variety of training on topics like the effects of alcohol, drink drugging and sober monitor training.
According to UO Spokesperson Eric Howald, the advantage of RealResponse is the ability to communicate confidentially with anonymous reporters.
“RealResponse will be a vehicle to build trust and create opportunities for student reporters to learn about the processes available to them without identifying themselves until they are ready to do so, and only if they are ever ready to do so,” Howald said.
Communications made through RealResponse are encrypted and then sent to the university. University employees in the Office of Investigations and Civil Rights Compliance can respond to reporters without disclosing identities, enabling ongoing conversations that offer “timely intervention and support,” according to the announcement.
Howald said that after the program’s soft launch within the FSL community, RealResponse will be available to all students.
FSL was reached for comment but did not respond in time for publication.
