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Update: Ending Sexual Assault and Gender Violence

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Author(s)

Jeremy Haefner

Announcement  •
Messages from Leadership  •

Message Highlights:

  • DU has joined Culture of Respect, a national higher ed initiative that provides institutions with tools and resources to identify and address issues related to gender violence and sexual assault.
  • EOIX has launched improved discrimination and harassment policy and procedure documents. You can view these clearer documents here, under infographics and resources.
  • The Healthy Masculinity group is meeting and building programming.
  • HCC is hosting robust Sexual Assault Awareness Month programming.

 

Dear DU community members,

The University of Denver has been taking action to combat sexual assault and gender violence on campus. You can read more about WeCanDUBetter, the student-led campaign that spurred this work and the updates we’ve provided since here (from March 2020) and here (from October 2020). Today, I write to share another update about how we are working hard to make this campus a safe and welcoming place free of sexual assault and gender violence.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month Programming

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and DU’s Health and Counseling Center has put together four weeks of programming, including workshops on gender violence, how to support survivors and healthy sexual communication, as well as educational material on social media and a Denim Day consent fair (April 28). Detailed information on this programming is available for students on CrimsonConnect and will soon be available on DU’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month website.

DU has joined NASPA’s Culture of Respect

As the next and boldest step in our work, the University has joined the nation-wide initiative, Culture of Respect.

A NASPA (National Association of Student Personnel Administrators) initiative, Culture of Respect’s mission is to help educational institutions end sexual violence. By joining Culture of Respect’s fifth cohort, DU will gain access to a variety of tools and expertise to further identify and remediate issues related to gender-based violence on campus.

Culture of Respect’s CORE Blueprint

  • Survivor support
  • Clear policies
  • Multi-tiered education
  • Public disclosure
  • School-wide mobilization
  • Ongoing assessment

A leadership team composed of faculty, staff and students from across campus will convene each month and use Culture of Respect’s resources to guide DU through a rigorous self-assessment process. This process will result in a plan of action built on sustainable implementation during the two years we are partnered with the initiative. You can view the team’s full membership here. Thank you to the many individuals on campus, most especially in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX (EOIX), for helping DU begin this important partnership.

Launching new, clearer resource documents  

The Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX has created new resource documents, which more clearly explain our discrimination and harassment procedures and policies, Title IX regulations, and available support and reporting options. You can download these documents here under infographics and resources.

New training for EOIX staff

EOIX engaged Josh Richards of Saul Ewing, an outside expert in the field, to conduct training for appeals officers regarding the University’s procedures, the role of the appeals officer, the scope of the procedures, and how to serve impartially to avoid bias and conflicts of interest.

EOIX has also joined the Association of Title IX Administrators (ATIXA), which provides access to resources, training and certifications on conducting Title IX investigations.

Kick-off of the Healthy Masculinity Work Group

This month, members of the Healthy Masculinity Working Group met to discuss their multi-faceted approach to this initiative. Soon, they will begin exploring programming, such as a symposium on healthy masculinity and inviting subject matter experts to speak on campus. The group will also explore convening a men’s group in the fall term.

One instance of sexual assault on campus is too many. The University of Denver is committed to becoming an institution where every member of the community feels safe, supported and respected. Thank you to everyone involved in making this goal a reality.

Sincerely,

Jeremy Haefner
Chancellor

  • Culture of Respect Membership

    Co-Leads

    • Andy Thyrring - Coordinator of Gender Violence Prevention and Education, Health and Counseling Center
    • Molly Hooker - Deputy Title IX Coordinator, Office of Equal Opportunity & Title IX

    Members

    • Emily Babb - Associate Vice Chancellor for Equal Opportunity and Title IX and Title IX Coordinator, Office of Equal Opportunity & Title IX
    • June Churchill - Undergraduate Student
    • Lynn Coutts - Associate Vice Chancellor, Deputy Athletic Director, Student-Athlete Excellence, Division of Athletics and Recreation
    • Tim Daniel - Doctoral Student, Department of Professional Psychology
    • Kristin Deal - Director, Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
    • Dr. Anne DePrince - Professor, Department of Psychology; Faculty Director, Center for Community Engaged Scholarship & Learning, Center for Community Engagement
    • Dong Dinh - 4D Cohort Coordinator, Office of the Chancellor
    • Ashley Hunt - Assistant Director, Advocacy Services-CAPE, Health and Counseling Center
    • John Haddock - Undergraduate Student
    • Ashley Hunt - Assistant Director of Advocacy Services, Center for Advocacy, Prevention and Empowerment
    • Dr. Sarah Hurtado - Assistant Professor, Morgridge College of Education
    • Brianna Makumbi - Undergraduate Student
    • Kristine McCaslin - Director of Student Rights & Responsibilities, Interim Director of Housing & Residential Education
    • Cody Ortiz-Oldham - Assistant Director, Gender & Sexuality, The Cultural Center
    • Jasmine Pulce - Assistant Director, Affinity Group Leadership, The Cultural Center
    • Jes Stroope - Academic LEP Counselor, Learning Effectiveness Program
    • Dr. Dheepa Sundaram - Assistant Professor, Hindu Studies, Critical Theory and Digital Religion, Department of Religious Studies
    • Dr. Kate Willink - Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, Office of the Provost
  • Healthy Masculinity Membership

    Co-chairs

    • Todd Adams - Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Division of Student Affairs & Inclusive Excellence
    • Molly Hooker - Deputy Title IX Coordinator, Office of Equal Opportunity & Title IX
    • Amie Levesque - Teaching Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology and Criminology

    Members

    • Emily Babb - Associate Vice Chancellor for Equal Opportunity and Title IX and Title IX Coordinator, Office of Equal Opportunity & Title IX
    • Lynn Coutts - Associate Vice Chancellor, Deputy Athletic Director, Student-Athlete Excellence, Division of Athletics and Recreation
    • Brian Elizardi - Director of Alumni Engagement, University Advancement
      Mike Holt - Interim Director of Campus Safety, Division of Campus Safety
    • Ashley Hunt - Assistant Director of Advocacy Services, Center for Advocacy, Prevention and Empowerment
    • Dr. Sarah Hurtado - Assistant Professor, Higher Education, Morgridge College of Education
    • Michael LaFarr - Executive Director, Health and Counseling Center
    • Cody Ortiz-Oldham - Assistant Director, Gender & Sexuality, The Cultural Center
    • Luke Srsen - Undergraduate student
    • Jack Thomas - Doctoral Student, Department of Professional Psychology
    • Andy Thyrring - Coordinator of Gender Violence Prevention and Education, Health and Counseling Center
    • Bob Willis - Assistant Vice Chancellor, Deputy Athletic Director, Community Engagement, Division of Athletics and Recreation

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