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Fresh@news is an e-newsletter created for the family of the Class of 2022! We're here to help you navigate your first year at Villanova University. Over the year we will share stories and information tailored to provide you with important dates and deadlines, connect you to campus life, and inform you of important Villanova news.


 
NOVEMBER 2018

IN THIS ISSUE:

  • Interview with Ryan Rost, Title IX Coordinator at Villanova
  • In the Spotlight: Emerging Leaders Workshops
  • Mark your Calendar!
 
INTERVIEW


Our interview with Ryan Rost ’96 B.A., ’98 M.S. who serves as the University’s Title IX Coordinator.

Can you explain what Title IX is?

Title IX refers to the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX is part of the Civil Rights Act and prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity. Many people associate Title IX with women in sports which was a focus of enforcement in the 80’s and 90’s.  Title IX protection also includes sexual misconduct which can include sexual assault, sexual exploitation, dating/domestic violence and stalking.  In recent years, the Department of Education has issued guidance for colleges and universities to follow regarding sexual misconduct on college campuses.  The University continues to monitor such guidance and regulations in order to best serve our students.


Can you explain the role of the Title IX Coordinator? 

As the Title IX Coordinator, I serve as a visible resource for the entire campus community and have the responsibility of coordinating Villanova’s efforts to comply with Title IX.  Working with other departments at Villanova, we seek to eliminate sexual violence and other sexual misconduct from our community, prevent its recurrence and address its effects.


Villanova seems like a relatively safe campus, but we know that no college campus is immune to sexual violence. What does Villanova do to prevent sexual violence from happening?

Villanova has numerous student and employee education and prevention programs.  Some of the students programs began before your daughter or son arrived on campus.  Here are just a few:

Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates: A premier online course to help students understand, address and prevent sexual violence.  This engaging and accessible program uses evidence-based content to address this critical issue with all incoming undergraduate students.

Moments that Matter: An engaging video presentation as part of New Student Orientation program delivered by current Villanova students, faculty and staff.  This program includes a follow-up, small group discussion, facilitated by trained Orientation Counselors and focuses on high-risk alcohol use and sexual violence, with a particular focus on safe and effective bystander intervention skills and campus resources.

Bystander intervention campaign and training: This initiative helps students understand consent, learn safe and effective ways to intervene in situations involving alcohol and/or sexual violence and identifies campus and community resources available to Villanova students.

As the Title IX Coordinator, a large part of my role is prevention training for students, faculty and staff. In addition, the Office of Health Promotion coordinates many of Villanova’s education and prevention efforts.  A listing of the initiatives are found on the website.


How can a student get more involved in sexual violence prevention at Villanova?

Students can become a member of POWER (Peers Offering Wellness Education & Resources) – our trained peer education team who sponsor and participate in numerous health awareness initiatives, including sexual violence prevention.  Students can also join the Villanova Feminism Society, also knowns as “Feminova”, a group that looks to create meaningful change through activism and action.  Lastly, students can engage in casual conversations with peers about sexual violence and what they think they can do to help with prevention.

Here is a list of other ways students can get involved.


How does Villanova help students who have experienced sexual violence?


Most importantly, Villanova works to ensure that the student is safe.  From there, Villanova has 24/7 resources, confidential resources as well as on- and off-campus resources available to assist students.  Just a few of these resources are:
  • Sexual Assault Resource Coordinator (SARC) Team – available 24/7 to help provide support, information regarding reporting and process options and assistance with coordinating accommodations.
  • Public Safety, Title IX Investigator – available 24/7 to accept reports, conduct investigations, issue no-contact orders and serve as liaison with local law enforcement; Public Safety also offers services such as security escorts.
  • University Counseling Center – provides confidential counseling to students.  
  • Student Health Center – available 24/7 (when classes are in session) to provide medical care, as well as confidential and free testing for predatory drugs, sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy for a student who believes they have experienced sexual violence.

A list of on and off campus resources can be found on the University’s Sexual Violence website.


Does the University provide resources to students who have been accused of sexual violence (i.e., respondents)?

The University has community members who serve as part of the Respondent Resource Coordinator team who can assist respondents with: obtaining emotional support through counseling; navigating the disciplinary process; and assisting with other questions and concerns. Other resources for respondents can be found here.


What happens when a student makes a report of sexual violence to the University? Does it automatically trigger a police investigation?

Villanova is committed to supporting the rights of a person reporting an incident of sexual violence to make an informed choice among options and services available both on and off campus. Students are encouraged to notify law enforcement, but may decline to notify campus or law enforcement officials.  Students can seek a criminal investigation, administrative (Title IX) investigation, or both.  Interim measures, such as no-contact orders, academic/living/transportation accommodations and emotional support are available during and after a report, regardless of whether the student pursues such investigations.
Following an investigation students can:
  1. Request the University to pursue action under the Code of Student Conduct (which also constitutes the University’s Title IX grievance procedures); and/or
  2. Make a report to the police department with jurisdiction; and/or
  3. Make a statement for the record with the Dean of Students Office, Department of Public Safety, or the Office of Residence Life       

      

Why is the University conducting a climate survey about sexual violence this fall?

Similar to the sexual violence climate survey conducted in the Fall of 2015, this anonymous and voluntary survey will provide Villanova University a clearer understanding of the scope and nature of sexual violence within our community. The survey will help us to answer the following questions: How often do our students experience unwanted sexual contact, stalking and/or relationship violence? What impact do these experiences have on our students? To whom do students disclose and report these incidents? What are students’ perspectives on Villanova’s response to disclosures and reports of sexual violence? How can prevention and response efforts be improved?   We expect that the survey feedback will provide invaluable input, as it did in 2015, and help us to further develop and enhance Villanova’s resources related to sexual violence prevention and response.



What initiatives have been put in place following the 2015 sexual violence climate survey?


Some recent initiatives at the University include:
  • Development of the Sexual Violence Prevention Advisory Committee, a 30 member committee consisting of diverse representation from across the University community, including undergraduate/graduate/law students, faculty and staff who offer guidance on the issue of sexual violence prevention and response.
  • Addition of parent sessions during New Student Orientation and Parents Weekend.
  • Addition of several student groups receiving the University’s Where is the Love? Bystander Intervention Training which teaches students how to identify and intervene in concerning situations – over 3,000 students have received this training.
  • Events such as Clothesline Project and Walk a Mile in Their Shoes.
  • Introduction of the One Love Escalation Workshop to help our community identify relationship abuse.
  • Addition of education and training programs to increase faculty, staff and student awareness on the University’s confidential and non-confidential resources and responding to disclosures of sexual violence.
  • Mandatory training for faculty and staff on sexual violence prevention and response.


What can parents do to help prevent sexual violence?


Parents can talk with their sons or daughters about issues such as: healthy relationships, the role alcohol can play in sexual violence, how to intervene to help a friend, and how to become involved in prevention and education.  Also, parents can encourage their child to participate in the sexual violence climate survey so that we can have the most complete data possible in order to better serve our community.

For more information about Villanova’s sexual violence policies, procedures and programs, please visit our website.

 
IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Emerging Leaders Workshops are designed to help students make deeper connections on campus through various leadership opportunities:
Students will:
• Learn how to connect with existing student organizations
• Discover how to start a new student organization
• Receive information about Villanova’s many leadership, advocacy, and service programs
• Recognize how to utilize individual “strengths” more intentionally in their leadership pursuits
• Hear from upperclassmen who have made their college experience come alive
• Enjoy a fantastic lunch!

UPCOMING DATES:
Friday, November 30, 12-1pm, West Lounge Dougherty Hall
Friday, December 7, 12-1pm, West Lounge Dougherty Hall


For more information, please email Steve Koch in the Office of Student Involvement, at stephen.koch@villanova.edu
 
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
 

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