College hookup culture. Hate it or love it, it is impossible to deny that most students will explore romantic & physical connections during their time at university. It is important to keep in mind when things get hot & steamy, that there can be a fine line between consent and sexual violence. To prevent instances of sexual assault, students must take advantage of the resources available to them here at UM, including their Title IX rights and It’s On Us.
The Scary Truth
Attending university is all about trying new experiences, meeting new people, and stepping out of your comfort zone, but exploring any new realm always comes with its threats. For example, most students delve into once foreign sexual activities with new partners while in college. Although getting freaky under the sheets is meant to be exhilarating, and rewarding, safety must be at the forefront of priorities. Ignoring you and your partner’s physical and mental safety in the bedroom can lead to unwanted or dangerous situations.
Statistics prove that college students are especially at risk for experiencing sexual violence. 81% of women will experience some kind of sexual violence in their lifetime, as well as 43% of men. For young people especially, these statistics must be apparent. Out of all survivors of sexual harassment or assault, 54% are victims of the ages 18-34. This range covers the average age for college students, emphasizing the point that university students require more knowledge on topics of sexual assault prevention and consent training.
Another frightening fact surrounding sexual violence is that more times than not, student survivors describe their assailants as someone they know. Whether this is a partner, classmate, coworker, friend, friend-of-friend, or a random one night stand, unfortunately, perpetrators of college students are most likely someone a survivor will run into again.
Students are required to remain educated on topics surrounding sexual assault and their campus resources in hopes of changing these statistics and fostering a safer community. Feeling lost on what’s out there to keep students safer at UM? Venture up to the Dean of Students Office in suite 2250 of UC Whitten to inquire about Title IX with dedicated faculty.
Know Your Rights
Title IX rights are most commonly associated with athletics and keeping the balance between the number of male & female teams. This may come as a shock to many students, but Title IX means much more than ensuring there aren’t more male sports teams than female, or vice versa.
Title IX laws protect students, and employees, from discrimination based on sex in educational programs or activities that receive Federal financial assistance. Covered persons at educational institutions are protected by Title IX — regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, part- or full-time status, disability, race, or national origin — in all aspects of the institution’s educational programs and activities.
The Sparknotes version of Title IX would go something like this: Title IX protects people based on sex and gender in education. All Title IX rights not only apply to students and faculty while physically on campus, but also off-campus, for example, in off-campus housing or during school breaks.
In relevance to sexual violence involving UM students or staff, Title IX rights are the protective barrier, and the Title IX office is responsible for handling all sexual misconduct cases. All sexual misconduct cases are reviewed by the Title IX investigator, Dean Chelsea Lopez. Dean Lopez also serves as the faculty advisor for the peer education organization based out of the Title IX office, known as It’s On Us. Dean Lopez describes a common misconception regarding title IX in stating,
“Just because you are coming to talk to me doesn’t mean this will be out of your hands or put into a case without the individual wanting to. We are here to follow students’ wishes and respect their voices.”
Title IX Resources
Despite personal experiences, all university students should be equipped with the resources that exist to assist survivors and bystanders of sexual violence. Unsure of which Title IX resources are best suited for a situation? The first step is understanding the differences between resource options. The Title IX resources available to all students and faculty are broken down into four main categories: medical attention, confidential, reporting, and supportive measures.
Seeking immediate medical attention is extremely important. In the event of an emergency, always dial 911. For non-emergency situations, the Roxy Bolton Rape Treatment Center (RTC) and University Health Services are adequate options. RTC is a non-profit, hospital-based sexual assault crisis center located on the Jackson Memorial Medical Center campus. The center is staffed with sexual assault nurse examiners, who provide comprehensive, quality medical treatment.
For those interested in having a confidential conversation, there is always someone available to listen. Ring The Sexual Assault Resource Team’s 24-hour anonymous hotline at 305-798-6666. If you want to explore more campus-specific, confidential options, book an appointment with the UM Counseling Center online. It’s On Us ambassadors are also always a confidential resource. As peer educators of the Title IX office, It’s On Us ambassadors are not mandatory reporters, and are always within easy reach.
Reports help to build a safer community. You may report sexual misconduct to the University, the police, or both (recommended). You can confidentially report a concern at miami.edu/titleix, call 305-284-8624, or visit Dean Lopez. Filing a report with Title IX does not mean that formal disciplinary action will be taken; it is up to the reporter to decide if and how to participate in the University’s investigative process. Please note that anyone who creates a report through Title IX, confidential or not, the individual who filed will be contacted for follow-up. The reporter can then choose whether or not to forward with an investigation. Keep in mind, reporting with the police is especially important if you want to take legal action.
Supportive measures are administrative actions that can help students and faculty feel safer on campus. Available supportive measures include, no contact orders, facility access restrictions, and change in housing, class, or employment to limit interactions. An example of a supportive measure in action is one might seek out supportive measures if they don’t want to go forward with official reporting, but would like to be moved from a class or residential college environment where their perpetrator frequents.
It’s On Us
Ever notice an enthusiastic group of students giving demonstrations on proper condom safety with bananas at a table in the breezeway? Or bubbly individuals dressed in “I <3 Safe Sex,” hats handing out penis straws at Project Public Health’s annual Sex Night? If either of these two events ring a bell, then you’ve already connected with the peer education program on sexual violence at UM, or It’s On Us (IOU).
It’s On Us is a national organization originally founded by the Obama administration in 2014, with chapters across various U.S. colleges. The University of Miami’s chapter of IOU is one of the top three chapters in America. The organization takes a lot of pride in hosting cheeky, interactive events and presentations to inform students on topics like consent, safety while drinking, mental health, and Title IX resources. IOU is currently made up of nearly 50 student ambassadors who volunteer their time to promote safe sex practices and make learning about sexual violence resources a little less daunting. Nico Kujas, a senior here at UM studying Biochemistry and Nutrition, who also serves as a Membership Coordinator for IOU provides her take on the impact IOU can make, “Everything starts with a small change, students must actively choose to stand up for survivors. If we can provide information to just one person who needed uplifting that day, that first small change develops into even more change.” The organization takes on new, devoted individuals twice a year through a mandatory application and interview process.
Each semester, IOU hosts a “week of action,” where ambassadors plan and execute five consecutive days of programming with various themes and locations to spread more awareness about their mission. This semester’s Fall Week of Action included tabling at Sex Night, Hometown Hookup at Centennial Village — where first-year students learned how to make conscious going-out decisions when returning to their hometowns for break —, a collaboration with UM Athletics on safe practices at the gym and sexual assault statistic surrounding athletes, Songs for Survivors at Patio Jams, and Take Back the Night.
Besides their ever-changing programming events around campus, IOU also hosts mandatory consent-training workshops for first-year orientation programs and all Greek Life chapters on campus. IOU aims to ensure that specific communities are properly equipped with the necessary sexual violence prevention tools to hopefully decrease rates of sexual assault in areas of campus that experience situations more frequently than others.
words_remi turner. photo_valeria barbaglio. design_sal puma.
This article was published in Distraction’s Winter 2024 print issue.
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