UC campuses are recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April with a host of events and activities to educate the UC community about sexual violence prevention and also highlight university resources that are available for education and support.
Activities are already under way this month, with additional events planned for the rest of April. These include discussions and workshops on topics such as consent, bystander intervention and self-defense. Many campuses are holding Take Back the Night marches, the Clothesline Project exhibit featuring T-shirts designed by survivors of sexual violence and their loved ones, and Denim Day in which people wear jeans as a symbol of protest against misconceptions around sexual assault.
To learn about what’s happening on your campus, please check your campus events listings or news website.
These April activities are part of UC’s ongoing efforts to more effectively address sexual harassment and sexual violence on campuses. Since June 2014, the university has worked diligently to assess its policies and procedures, and institute systemwide improvements to strengthen its processes, increase transparency and ensure consistency across the system.
Measures that have been implemented include mandatory education and training for students, administrators, faculty, and staff; confidential support for survivors; resources for people reporting sexual violence and those responding to allegations; and standardized procedures for investigating, adjudicating, and imposing sanctions in cases involving students. The university is currently reviewing its procedures for cases involving faculty.
Most recently, President Napolitano established a new Systemwide Peer Review Committee that will review and approve all proposed sanctions for senior university leaders, which includes chancellors, provosts, deans, coaches and athletic directors.
Information about university resources and measures UC is taking to address sexual violence is available on UC’s systemwide website.