Resolution 14-03
Resolution 14-03 concerning Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment
Resolution of the Employee Forum
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
June 4, 2014
WHEREAS, the Mission of the Employee Forum is to constructively address the concerns of the Employees of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, including the presentation of staff concerns to University officials and the University General Administration; and
WHEREAS, the 2013 complaints to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights have underscored the importance of sexual violence prevention and response conversations; and
WHEREAS, the month of April has been designated Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the United States, with the goal of raising public awareness about sexual violence and educating communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence; and
WHEREAS, a significant number of UNC employees and students are primary or secondary survivors of sexual violence; and
WHEREAS, sexual assault or sexual violence is a form of sexual or gender-based harassment that involves having or attempting to have sexual contact with another individual without consent.
WHEREAS, the majority of sexual assault cases affect women, people of color, people with disabilities, and people who identify as LGBTQQI, but a significant amount (10%)1 affect men
WHEREAS, an effort needs to be made to spread awareness that sexual violence is not exclusive to women but is instead a problem that affects everyone; and
WHEREAS, these forms of violence have a significant impact on our campus climate; and
WHEREAS, the University has a commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment which supports the right of every member of the Carolina community to learn and work in an atmosphere that promotes fairness, equity and access to its employment and educational programs; and
WHEREAS, the Employee Forum has declared by resolution in 2008, 2011, and 2013 its unequivocal support for strong measures to prevent and respond appropriately to incidents of sexual violence on our campus;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Employee Forum of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reaffirms its commitment to a safe and inclusive campus community by pledging to support awareness efforts through annually recognizing April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and strongly supports campus, local, and state efforts to prevent violence in all its forms, to connect survivors of sexual violence with support and resources, and to hold the perpetrators of such acts accountable; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Employee Forum petitions the Equal Opportunity/Americans with Disabilities Act (EO/ADA) Office, the Office of Human Resources, offices within Student Affairs, the Department of Public Safety, and University administration to continue to:
- receive the proper training to support survivors of sexual assault; and
- inform victims of their options to notify law enforcement and seek counseling or support services; and
- support stronger disciplinary punishment for perpetrators found guilty of sexual misconduct and sexual harassment and
- implement appropriate response training such as HAVEN2 as well as other education on Title IX for university faculty and staff ; and
- encourage Safe Zone4 training or other initiatives to make the University community a safer and more supportive place for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions for all university faculty and staff; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Employee Forum of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill requests the Chancellor, his Administration and each and every school and department on this campus to support this resolution.
On behalf of the Delegates of the Employee Forum,
Charles Streeter, Chair
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[1] http://www.rainn.org/statistics2 Helping to Advocate Violence Ending Now (HAVEN) http://safe.unc.edu/get-involved/haven-training/
4 http://lgbtq.unc.edu/index.php/programs-services/safe-zone.html