Breaking the silence

Liberty’s Title IX Office initiates sexual assault awareness campaign on campus

The Liberty University Title IX Office’s preventative effort against sexual violence campaign, SpeakUP, aims to increase awareness of sexual violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating and domestic violence, stalking and all other gender-based discriminations by encouraging students to speak up regarding such issues.

According to the Title IX Office’s mission statement, the purpose of the Title IX Office is to foster an environment free from discrimination and harassment for all students and employees.

The office monitors and implements Title IX statutory and regulatory requirements, oversees institutional education and training for all members of the community and coordinates efforts to ensure compliance of policies governing all forms of sex-based discrimination.

Since the Title IX Office’s inception in July 2015, it has worked to show impartiality toward incidents reported to the office while maintaining a level of compassion and concern for the students who seek their care and strives to come alongside students while connecting them with resources.

SpeakUP focuses on fostering an environment where both prevention and response are imperative.

The campaign seeks to educate the campus at-large on the reality of sexual assault and ultimately provide a safe space for those affected by sexual discrimination.

“Sexual assault is such a taboo subject that people feel, ‘Oh, I shouldn’t bring it up or maybe it’s not a big deal,’” Valerie Dufort, assistant director of Liberty’s Title IX Office, said.

“It’s a big deal. It’s a subjective thing that happens to a person.”

According to the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN), in the United States one out of every 10 rape victims are male, and one out of every six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime.

“The Title IX Office focuses on gender equity and is not just for women.Men shouldn’t feel that they’re coming into this women dominated area. If there is a male out there that has had someone whose texting him relentlessly, or he’s had abuse in his past — all of those are handled by Title IX,” Dufort said.

Dufort continued to say Liberty’s Title IX Office is dedicated to helping victims of sexual assault regardless of when the assault happened and said even assaults that happened years ago can affect a victim’s work ethic and overall attitude in the present.

“This is something that can either heal the past or the present,” Dufort said.

“If it’s affecting you and your school work and it happens to go under the areas of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking — as these relate to your education we’re responsible for making those accommodations. Our ultimate goal is not to allow those things to overwhelm you.”

The Title IX Office offers amnesty and advocacy by encouraging students to speak out against sexual assault and sexual violence through its amnesty policy.

The amnesty policy states that students who have knowledge of a sexual assault but were separately in violation of the Liberty Way will not be punished for their violation of the honor code if they share their information with a Title IX representative.

“We want to make sure that students know that there is amnesty here,” Dufort said.

“We try to really let people know that if you have something you’re fearful to tell us because it’s not part of the Liberty Way — speak up. The Title IX Office is a place where we give you amnesty so that we can focus on the important stuff.”

Creating conversation through advocating, empowering, educating and supporting students is one of several ways that the Title IX Office seeks to change campus culture.

“The hope for the SpeakUP campaign is that the door will start to open to have a conversation,” Stephany Steger, Liberty’s administrative assistant of Title IX, said.

“Through this campaign we want to change the culture as a whole (and hope) for a mindset change. We want to create a shift in how people perceive this topic and how they perceive talking about the topic.”

According to The Title IX Office webpage, Liberty is committed to providing a safe learning, living, and working environment for the Liberty community.

Students are encouraged to contact the office for resources, support and encouragement.

“Proverbs 31:8 is our commitment as Christians,” Steger said.

“At this university and in this environment, we have the luxury of coming back to that scripture. It is our Christian duty to speak up for the rights of those who are destitute to speak and speak out for those who are vulnerable.”

For more information on the SpeakUP campaign or to report an incident of sexual misconduct text 4999 to 24502 or contact The Title IX Office at 434-592-4999

Williams is a news reporter.