Dr. Cathy Akens, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
opinion@fiusm.com
FIU’s “It’s on Us” Campaign is not just a banner, a t-shirt, a flyer or an online pledge. The campaign reflects our commitment to engage in efforts to raise awareness about campus sexual assaults.
Addressing the issue of sexual assaults and sexual violence is of the greatest importance to the FIU administration, because among the things we do, the safety and well-being of our students are most important. We want our students to have the highest quality education and to be engaged in their environment. To do that, we have to create an environment where students feel safe and supported. We know that and we focus on it every day.
Before the campaign, we’ve been engaged in efforts to end campus sexual assaults and to address the safety and well-being of our students.
In 1995, the Division of Student Affairs established what is now known as the Victim Empowerment Program. VEP is a unit within Counseling and Psychological Services that is dedicated to victim services. They provide intensive crisis intervention and case management services for our students.
All students have access to these services. In addition, their staff and peer educators, as well as departments like the Women’s Center, Residential Life and others provide programming on the topic of sexual assault.
FIU recently piloted a new online sexual assault prevention training that will be available for all students in the fall.
Students often ask about the process that is in place when someone reports a sexual assault to the University. There are multiple methods of reporting, including talking to a person (e.g. Shirlyon McWhorter, our Title IX Coordinator or the VEP on a confidential basis), calling the hotline, filing a police report or making an online report which can also be anonymous (see contact information below).
If someone is uncertain about making a report, they should talk to a VEP counselor.
Once a report is made, the University investigates the matter and takes interim protective measures which depend on the particular case. The University does not disclose information relating to a specific incident or students due to our privacy obligations under the law.
The University’s lack of communicating about a specific incident or students, should not be interpreted as a failure to take action.
The “It’s on Us” Campaign has provided the University a chance to increase the dialogue on an issue that is important to our community. We know the visibility of the messages has prompted important conversations, and in some cases, encouraged students to report incidents and/or seek services.
We know, however, that there is more work to do. We invite students to contact us if they want to be involved in shaping the culture of our community through dialogue, advocacy and education.
Our primary goal is supporting our students, creating a safe environment, and continuing to raise awareness that it’s on us…all of us.
If you or someone you know needs support or services, please seek us out. We are here and we care.
Resources:
Victim Empowerment Program (VEP)
advocacy.fiu.edu
24 Hour Hotline | (305) 348-3000
Title IX Coordinator
Shirlyon McWhorter
(305) 349-2785| shirlyon.mcwhorter@fiu.edu
Dean of Students
Dr. Cathy Akens
(305) 348-2797 |cathy.akens@fiu.edu
Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution
conduct.fiu.edu
MMC | GC 311
(305) 348-3939
FIU|MMC Police
(305) 348-5911
FIU|BBC Police
(305) 919-5911
Online Reporting Information
PanthersCare.fiu.edu
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