The Government of the Student Body passed a bill with revisions to the sexual assault policy at their Wednesday night meeting with a 25-1-0 vote.

The senate started to debate the Supporting the Revisions to the Student Disciplinary Regulations bill but needed to better grasp the language of the bill before making a decision. The bill includes revisions to the ISU sexual assault policy.

Dione Somerville, dean of students, agreed to leave her home to attend the GSB meeting at the last minute to answer the senators’ questions.

“What we want to do is provide framework so we can all coexist harmoniously,” Somerville said.

Off-campus senator Jacob Johnston, senior in management, expressed concern about the section of the bill that said court cases would take place simultaneously.

“It doesn’t give students a chance to defend themselves in front of the board if they have to be in two places at once,” he said.

He also expressed concern about the possibility of interim suspension. The bill states that the university reserves the right to, in the event of a criminal case, suspend the student accused before the court proceedings are over.

Johnston said he didn’t think it was fair and “violates what we’ve learned growing up, that you’re innocent until proven guilty.”

“Your question is almost one of vengeance,” Somerville said. “It’s almost like you think the university is out to get you.”

Johnston said he believes the university has good intentions, but “I watch the news and I can’t predict what will happen down the road.”

Somerville responded saying it is her responsibility to keep all of the students at Iowa State safe and at times interim action may be the best way to go about doing so.

“So theoretically, under the new policy, if Tom punches you in the face at the bar and the court doesn’t find him guilty, the university still can — and I just can’t get on board with that,” said Erik Hofstad, senior in aerospace engineering.

Somerville said the university reserves the right to punish a student for a crime whether they are found innocent or guilty.

“Often times the university has information that law enforcement does not,” Somerville said.

She said there is no set way to dealing with these circumstances because they want to look at each situation on a case-by-case basis in order to effectively serve the victim. Iowa State is one of the only schools in the Big 12 to handle sexual assault cases this way.

Under the new policy, the process would also benefit the student accused of a crime.

Part of what the university will do while waiting for the criminal process to be completed is to withdraw the accused student from classes.

“That way a student won’t be sitting in jail and receive a bill from ISU,” she said.

Somerville also added that there has been a tremendous increase in the number of violent issues reported this year.

She said she is looking forward to next year, when they will know if this year was a fluke or if these issues are becoming a trend.