President
June 12, 2019
On June 12, 2019, Rev. Mark L. Poorman, C.S.C., President of the University of Portland, conveyed the following message to the University community:
Dear Members of the University of Portland Community,
Earlier today, the United States Province of the Congregation of Holy Cross released the names of Holy Cross individuals who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of a minor. The list includes three individuals who were assigned by the Province to the University of Portland at some point in their careers.
The individuals identified by the Province are Rev. Archibald McDowell, C.S.C., Rev. James Trepanier, C.S.C., and Rev. Gordon Wilcox, C.S.C. Rev. McDowell served at UP from 1949 to 1951 and 1953 to 1957 as a faculty member and chaplain. Rev. Trepanier served at UP from 1963 to 1967 as a faculty member and chaplain. Rev. Wilcox was at the University from 1960 to 1962 and then, from 1978 to 1983, held roles as Director of the Salzburg Program, Assistant Director of International Programs, and Resident Director of Shipstad Hall.
The University is not presently aware of information linking the alleged abuse to these individuals’ service at UP. These individuals are no longer associated with the University, and two of the three are deceased. If you are aware of information related to any misconduct by these individuals towards a member of the University of Portland community, the Province’s statement, available here, provides information on how to make a report. Anyone who seeks to provide the University with information should do so by contacting the Title IX office at titleix@up.edu or (503) 943-8982.
The sexual abuse of a child is a horrific offense. Survivors and their families deserve recognition of their pain and unwavering solidarity as they navigate a path towards healing. The Province’s decision to release names now is a critical step towards an acknowledgment of harms committed in the past and a commitment to a present and future marked by proactivity and accountability. To that end, the Province’s statement today promises ongoing work and details measures it takes to prevent future harm.
At the University of Portland, the safety of our community is our priority, and we do not tolerate abuse of any kind on our campus. We are committed to taking meaningful action not only to prevent abuse from occurring but also to hold accountable those who commit misconduct. The University has comprehensive policies and procedures in place to address sexual misconduct, and we encourage University community members to report any and all concerns. UP’s Title IX website, available here, contains information regarding these policies, procedures, and practices as well as information on how to report an incident of sexual or gender-based harassment, misconduct, or violence in our community. The Title IX website also provides a list of resources available to support to those who are impacted by these issues.
I ask that all members of the UP community continue the important work of creating a campus of respect and accountability. I hope that you will join me in praying for the victims, for their families, for the Church, for the Congregation of Holy Cross, and for our society.
Sincerely,
Father Mark
Rev. Mark L. Poorman, C.S.C.
President
The Province’s press release may be found here: https://www.holycrossusa.org/article/press-release/
If you or someone you know has been abused by a member of the Province or if you have additional information related to the Province’s release, you are encouraged to contact Rev. Peter A. Jarret, C.S.C., at pjarret@holycrossusa.org or (574) 631-1126.
Media inquiries concerning the Province’s press release should be directed to the Province’s Communications Manager, Angela Knight, at aknight@holycross.usa.org.
The University of Portland has invested significantly in its education and outreach on topics related to Title IX and sexual- and gender-based harassment, misconduct, and violence. In an op-ed entitled “Working Together to Create a More Just and Safe Community and World,” UP’s Title IX Coordinators Sandy Chung and Matt Rygg detailed the University’s recent efforts in this regard. The op-ed can be viewed here: https://www.upbeacon.com/article/2019/04/working-together-to-create-a-more-just-and-safe-community-and-world
UP community members are encouraged to report incidents of sexual and gender-based harassment, misconduct, and violence to the Title IX Office. You can find more information about the University’s Title IX policies, procedures, practices, and reporting options on the University’s Title IX website available here https://www.up.edu/titleix/.
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