Trigger Warning: This article mentions sexual assault, rape, and harm.
by Mariah Guilfoil-Dovel
As stated by the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (DOJ), one in four women experience sexual assault while in college. There are more than 19 million students enrolled in higher education in the United States of America, however, women make up the highest percentage of students on upper-division campuses at 54.9 percent. Evergreen’s rate of female-identifying students is slightly higher at 59.5 percent. The official website of the DOJ states, “ … younger students, as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students, experience the highest rates of sexual violence on campuses nationwide.”
Male-identifying students on college campuses are also affected by this problem. “Male college-aged students (18-24) are 78% more likely than non-students of the same age to be a victim of rape or sexual assault,” the website said.
If you’ve experienced harassment, stalking, or violence as a student it can be difficult to know what to report and how to report it. This article will focus on Evergreen-specific resources including our confidential advocate, counseling services, and the title IX officer. Though students can not always control the outcome of reports, we have more options than most because we are at a federally funded college. I recently had a fellow student tell me about a personal traumatizing experience she had, and when I asked “Did you report it?” she responded with “I didn’t know I could.”
How to Report:
You can report online by searching “CARE Report” on the Evergreen.edu search bar and clicking on the “Reporting Concerns” page. It will give you a short list of different options; select and fill out the form of your choice. You will get an email back from the office you chose to report to, and that will start the conversation. Incidents can also be reported in person by speaking to the school’s confidential advocate, Em Jones, in the Office of Sexual Violence Prevention and Response (SEM 1 4119), or by going to Counseling Services (SEM building 2100), and the Title IX officer on the third floor of the library building, near the President’s office. Once you have either filed a report online or shown up in person you can make a plan of action with the college officials.
Where Students Can Go:
The Title IX Officer: Evergreen’s Title IX officer, Connie Gardner, has a legal responsibility mandated by the federal government to protect you from discrimination on the basis of sex. Title IX gets its name from the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX states that: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
Going through the Title IX office means you can be helped in a way no other place on campus can assist you.“When students come to me it won’t start a formal process,” Gardner said. “99 percent of the time I will work with the individual to determine what the best next steps are for them, because it is individualized each time … my office coordinates the processes to work with all students equitably.”
Gardner also provided several possible outcomes of making a report to the Title IX office saying, “Academic adjustments, no contact orders, it depends on the situation but we can offer measures to make sure that students feel safe in their experience. We are committed to equitable access to academics.”
The Confidential Advocate: Evergreen’s confidential advocate is Em Jones with the Office of Sexual Violence Prevention and Response. The benefits of talking to a confidential advocate, versus a non-confidential person, is that they are the only employees on campus who do not have to automatically report any possible Title IX violations that a student shares with them.
“The difference is, with Em Jones as a confidential advocate, they work with the specific student to determine how to best move forward with them to provide safety planning and things of that nature and Em Jones doesn’t need to report anything to the Title IX office,” Gardner said.
Evergreen has a system where most employees are called “Responsible Employees” meaning they are obligated to report any time they receive information on a title IX violation. Gardner stated there are three services on campus where students can go to speak with people without that information ever being shared without their direct consent: “Student Wellness Services, the staff in Health and Counseling, and Em Jones.” Those people will work with the students to process as they would like to, meaning, only if a student decides they would like to report then they will proceed.
Counseling Services: Students can make appointments over the phone, in person, and via email. The office also has walk-in hours. A “walk-in” means you do not have an appointment, and they are able to see you. As stated on the Counseling Services’ website, “Students coming in for ‘walk-in’ hours can expect to be seen briefly to establish a path for the most appropriate care and/or arrange a short-term plan in the event of a crisis.” You can email Studentwellnessservices@evergreen.edu, call (360) 867-6200, or walk over to SEM 1 2100. The office hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday from 1–7 p.m., and Friday from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. If you are a student, facing any kind of issue, having a safe space is always a good option.
Why Make a Report:
Because you matter. What you’ve experienced matters and your education matters. Advocating for yourself does not always mean filing any kind of official report. It means you do what is right for you. It could be meeting with a confidential advocate, meeting with the Counseling Services, or starting a conversation with the Title IX officer. Being a college student does not mean you are supposed to be treated badly—students have rights. You have the right to a safe education, and advocating for yourself is a strong tool to make that happen.
