Content warning: This message discusses sexual assault and gender-based violence.
This message is being sent to all Duke undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.
Dear students,
As many of you may know, April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Sexual misconduct and gender violence are a reality on our campus, and many Duke students have been impacted by these issues during their time as students. Sexual misconduct and gender violence affect every member of our community, and we know that women of color, as well as LGBTQ+ students, experience disproportionate degrees of impact on our campus and in society.
We want to be clear: There is NO place for sexual harassment, misconduct, or assault at Duke. We’re writing to you today with three goals:
- to reaffirm our commitment to preventing sexual misconduct, supporting survivors, maintaining an equitable process, and providing accountability for Title IX violations;
- to highlight steps we have taken to promote a campus community that values respect, safety, and accountability; and,
- to remind you of our campus policies and resources for students affected by gender violence, including avenues to formally report incidents to Duke and to local authorities.
Both the Division of Student Affairs and the Office for Institutional Equity are committed to fostering a culture of respect, safety, and accountability, as well as responding with swift and consistent action to allegations of sexual misconduct.
To this end, last fall we established Duke’s Center for Gender Violence Prevention and Intervention (GVPI). This GVPI Center has allowed us to significantly expand our prevention and intervention efforts, create new opportunities for student interns and strengthen our partnerships with student leaders across campus. We also aim to improve transparency and accessibility of our resources for all undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Associate Dean of Students Victoria Krebs is serving as the GVPI Center’s interim director while the search for a permanent director is underway.
Establishing the GVPI Center was an important step, but it is far from the only action the University and our teams will continue to take. We are committed to continuing our efforts to create a safe and supportive environment for all students, regardless of their gender identity. Once we hire a permanent director (anticipated start date of August 1), GVPI will expand its services to provide support for survivors of gender violence, such as sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, and sexual harassment, whether in-person or online. Additionally, we will create programs and outreach initiatives aimed at promoting sexual health and well-being, educating students on healthy relationships, and increasing awareness of campus policies and Federal and State laws.
Below our signatures, you will find a list of resources that offer a range of support for any student experiencing gender violence or sexual misconduct. Please know that you are not alone, and that we are here to help.
There is still much work ahead. True prevention is an ongoing, collaborative effort – a shared responsibility of our entire community. Together, we can ensure that Duke lives up to its ideals as a campus where all students can learn, study, and live free from sexual misconduct of any kind.
Thank you for your continued partnership in this work.
Sincerely,
Mary Pat McMahon
Vice Provost and Vice President for Student Affairs
Kimberly Hewitt
Vice President for Institutional Equity and Chief Diversity Officer
