Taya Drummer-Chaney
Staff Writer
The Jackson State University Title IX Office is committed to bringing awareness to the issue of domestic violence and other interpersonal violence situations, but more importantly, Title IX wants students to know how and where they can report these offences.
To help in this endeavor, Title IX sponsored a Domestic Violence Forum entitled Awareness. Prevention. Empowerment, in the Student Center Ballroom A on Oct. 4.
The forum began a month-long discussion of the issue that according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) affects 43 percent of women who attend college.
JSU students, staff and faculty had the opportunity to engage in a group like setting to discuss the dangers of a domestic violence in relationships, negative incidents that impact both male and female students on campus, and the solutions.
Keisha Varnell, interpersonal violence specialist for Title IX and one of the facilitators for the event, gave forum attendees important red flags to look for in their partners that may lead to domestic violence. They included: jealousy, overbearingness, over protectiveness, someone who is clingy, and stalking.
“Jackson State University strives to create an environment and culture that is safe for all community members and is respectful of all indiv
iduals. Sexual and interpersonal violence prevention and response is crucial to creating a safe, supportive, and healthy environment for students, upon matriculation and throughout their college career,” said Varnell.
Varnell also stressed that students have more than just the Department of Public Safety and the Latasha Norman Center to report these incidents should they occur.
While the Latasha Norman Center deals primarily with counseling victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and other interpersonal violence, the Title IX office deals with the reporting of these incidents to help students get justice.
The U.S. Department of Education’s Title IX section of the 1972 Education Amendments protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance.
Varnell explained that any student attending a federally funded college or university should be free of gender-based discrimination, intimate partner and gender violence, stalking, sexual assault and other associated biased behaviors.
Zenovia Bradley, one of the students in attendance, was pleased to learn that Jackson State has so many avenues available to help students with these sensitive topics.
“Now I know more about resources that are available on campus, including Title IX, the Department of Public Safety, and the Latasha Norman Center. Tips were provided for being safe on campus, but still having fun,” said Bradley, a special education major from Kansas City, Mo.
Some of the tips Bradley felt were helpful included: Having a good group of friends you trust, utilizing the sending your location app on the iPhone, sending pictures of license plates to friends and loved ones, and getting full government names.
“Some of the advice given was to follow them (people you date) on social media and send a picture to your home girl when going out on dates,” said Bradley.
Javonta Roper, a graduate student majoring in finance major from Edwards, Miss., feels students should be more cautious and aware of what they do on campus.
“JSU has many beneficial resources where students can go for help. Students should be aware of their surroundings, walk in groups with people they trust, and report things that seem suspicious,” said Roper.
Patrice Hudson, a senior finance major from Kansas City, Mo., was another student pleased to learn of all the resources JSU has available to help students.
“Another option for students is the Title IX office or the SMART team (Sexual Misconduct Assault Response Team),” said Hudson. “The SMART team is more of peer educators. It creates dialogue and it allows the students to understand the faculty and the faculty to understand the students.”
According to Varnell, the SMART Team is comprised of faculty, staff, and students. If students are interested in becoming peer educators, or they have or know someone who has been a victim of some form of interpersonal violence, they can contact her at the Title IX Office at 601-979-1561
Photos by Taya Drummer-Chaney
