To All Members of the Campus Community:
Members of the Hornet Family came together at a student-led town hall on Nov. 18 to voice concerns about campus safety and the University’s response to the sexual assaults committed earlier in the fall semester. As I said in a message following that town hall, we heard loud and clear your fear, pain, and anxiety, and we pledged to work proactively rather than reactively to end sexual violence and ensure that everyone feels safe.
After listening to the concerns and recommendations at the town hall, leaders from across campus collaborated to create an action plan to ensure that we improve campus safety. The plan focuses on prevention and support resources. The Sexual Violence Prevention, Safety, and Support Action Plan has seven goals and 32 individual action steps. Below are the seven goals and just a few of the action steps that have been completed or are ongoing. You can see the complete, detailed list of action items by viewing our Sexual Violence Prevention, Safety, and Support Action Plan. This living document will be regularly updated as needed.
Goal 1: Increase awareness of sexual assault to inform recognition and prevention
- A series of videos is being created to educate about sexual assault prevention and resources for survivors. Two are completed, and two are in progress. View the interview with the WEAVE confidential advocate here. Learn more about the Sexual Violence Awareness Team here.
- The Sexual Violence Awareness Team (SVAT) will create for students a series of in-person prevention and education workshops.
- Learn more about the action steps for this goal in the Action Plan.
Goal 2: Create and communicate resources to students to access in cases of sexual assault
- The Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) created a list of sexual violence prevention and support resources, including sample syllabus language for faculty. This new resource was shared with faculty, who are encouraged to include it in syllabi each semester.
- The University Police Department (UPD) is working with Associated Students Inc. to establish an information campaign about safety escorts on campus.
- Learn more about the action steps for this goal in the Action Plan.
Goal 3: Educate students on appropriate methods of prevention and intervention to promote prosocial behaviors
- Student Health and Counseling Services, in collaboration with SVAT, is creating additional video material regarding intervention and being an active bystander.
- More events will be held that bring together students, faculty, staff, and administrators to voice concerns and recommendations and to raise awareness about prevention and resources to end campus sexual assaults.
- Learn more about the action steps for this goal in the Action Plan.
Goal 4: Hire additional employees to support prevention and response
- An additional confidential advocate has been hired and will start on Jan. 31, 2023. The advocate will be in the American River Courtyard.
- OEO is in the process of hiring two complaint response officers/Title IX investigators. Their duties will include ensuring that reporting processes are improved and aligned with trauma-informed practices.
- Learn more about the action steps for this goal in the Action Plan.
Goal 5: Increase outreach opportunities and communication of educational and support resources for survivors
- OEO hired two student interns to create and promote educational campaigns, targeted outreach materials, and resources for students.
- A new trauma-informed resource, “Sheets for Survivors,” has been created.
- Learn more about the action steps for this goal in the Action Plan.
Goal 6: Enhance campus public-safety features
- More Community Service Officers (CSOs) have been hired to establish a greater presence on campus on evenings and weekends, and to provide safety escorts as needed.
- Lighting around Eureka Hall has been fixed and/or upgraded, and the fixtures in the lower level of that building will be fixed and upgraded this week
- A social worker will be hired to work with UPD so that armed officers will not be the primary respondents to all calls. The job requisition for this position will open this month.
- Learn more about the action steps for this goal in the Action Plan.
Goal 7: Embed a trauma-informed approach in the Title IX complaint response process
- OEO has enhanced its complaint response process to ensure that they respond in a timely, compassionate, and equitable manner.
- Two complaint officers have been hired to provide a trauma-informed response to address the cumbersome reporting process.
- Learn more about the action steps for this goal in Action Plan.
I hope you will take the time to read the action plan. Several divisions on campus will continue to collaborate to complete the action steps and add new action steps and goals as needed. To share additional recommendations or other feedback, please email president@csus.edu.
Again, I thank the students, faculty, and staff who have stepped up to voice their experiences, anxieties, and ideas. Together, we can end sexual harassment and sexual violence.
