April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the California State University’s 23 campuses are bringing awareness to sexual violence and the expanding resources available to students. These efforts are part of the CSU’s ongoing commitment to keep campuses safe for students and employees by increasing sexual violence awareness and prevention training.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, an estimated one in five women are sexually assaulted while attending college. While women are disproportionately affected, people of all genders and identities are subject to power-based personal violence. The impact of sexual assault can be wide-ranging, with long-term health and psychological effects.
“Prevention begins with awareness. We want all students, faculty and staff to recognize how to prevent sexual assault and also be aware that such conduct has consequences and is a violation of CSU policy,” said CSU Title IX Compliance Officer Pamela Thomason. “Awareness also encourages bystander intervention, which creates a safer, more supportive campus community.”
Appointed last December, Thomason is the CSU’s first systemwide Title IX officer and leads cross-functional efforts with the divisions of Academic and Student Affairs, Human Resources and General Counsel to address the issue of sexual violence across the 23 campuses. Her appointment is part of an increased system commitment to improve student safety and prevent sexual violence.
Last year, the CSU began implementing a comprehensive, consistent approach to addressing sexual violence across its system. The effort includes mandatory sexual violence training for students and employees, placement of a confidential sexual assault advocate on all campuses, and revisions to system policies to reflect changes in the law.
The system office and campuses continue to implement additional innovative solutions to tackle sexual violence:
Prevention:
- The CSU policy now requires that incoming freshmen, transfer students and new employees receive mandatory sexual assault training. Most campuses also train existing staff and students active in campus clubs, athletics and Greek organizations.
- Every campus has now implemented a campus-wide task force on sexual violence that monitors cases and assesses awareness/prevention programs. Task force participants include the campus Title IX officer, representatives from student and academic affairs and university police.
- All 23 campus presidents recently participated in an extensive training and collaboration session and committed to expanding campus education and prevention efforts with an individual campus action plan.
- Many campuses including Cal State Fullerton and Humboldt State offer bystander intervention training programs, which provide students and staff with the skills necessary to take appropriate action in potentially dangerous situations.
Awareness:
- Students at several CSUs including Fresno, Northridge and San Diego are participating in the White House’s “It’s on Us” campaign, which promotes both sexual assault awareness and bystander intervention through student associations.
- CSUs have also launched a number of awareness campaigns including Sacramento State’s “We Care. We Will Help,” which underscores the university’s commitment to providing security for all members of the campus community. Cal Poly Pomona has a “Men Against Violence” group that does outreach and events related to the role of men in preventing violence.
Response:
- By June 2015, each campus will have a victim advocate to support survivors and help them understand their options and available resources.
- Systemwide efforts are underway to expand collaboration with community partners to enhance counseling and support services to sexual assault victims. All campuses provide referrals for services in cases that require outside resources.
- Many campuses including Cal State L.A. have a “Title IX Response Team” that meets regularly to prepare and address incidents, discuss, follow up and reconcile cases and request collaboration from other areas as necessary.
- The CSU now requires annual sexual assault training for investigators, hearing officers and university police.
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About the California State University
The California State University is the largest system of senior higher education in the country, with 23 campuses, more than 460,000 students and 47,000 faculty and staff. Created in 1961, the CSU awards more than 100,000 exceptional degrees annually and this spring will be celebrating the milestone of reaching 3 Million alumni. The CSU is renowned for the quality of its teaching and for the job-ready graduates it produces. The mission of the CSU is to provide high-quality, affordable education to meet the ever changing needs of the people of California. With its commitment to excellence, diversity and innovation, the CSU is the university system that is working for California. Connect with and learn more about the CSU at CSU Social Media.