The News Record 2.12.15

Page 1

Healthy Relationships Week

THE NEWS RECORD

UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI

NEWSRECORD.ORG

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2015

Racial awareness program talks sex, gender, identity with students MATT NICHOLS | STAFF REPORTER

Sitting in a unified circle, about 40 University of Cincinnati students connected with the university’s recently hired Title IX coordinator Jyl Shaffer as she led a discussion on Title IX Wednesday. As a part of Healthy Relationships Week, a weeklong celebration promoting healthy relationships and a culture of consent, Shaffer led the discussion in collaboration with UC’s Racial Awareness Program to educate students about Title IX and how it has affected change in this generation. “You should be able to sit at a bus stop and wait for a ride without being harassed,” Shaffer said. “We are not going to be a culture that says, ‘You’re just going to have to accept that.’ ” Shaffer explained many of the types of

harassments that can occur with students as well as methods describing how the university can offer aid. In general, under Title IX, any type of discrimination is a violation of civil rights and deserves justice, but circumstances often go beyond simple discrimination. One increasingly common trend Shaffer noted was people holding another person’s nude photographs ransom with the threat of sending the photos to the victim’s family members, teachers or friends. This type of harassment is an extreme violation of Title IX, Shaffer said. Title IX, a piece of legislation made law in 1972, is a document legally recognizing a need for equality in the nation by making it illegal to discriminate against any person in any program that receives federal funding. The legislation is widely known for ending wrestling programs, but it reaches far wider than that, Shaffer said. Men in cheerleading or women in SEE RAPP PG 3

DANIEL SULLIVAN | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

Jyl Shaffer, UC Title IX coordinator, speaks to RAPP on the social responsibility to be aware of sexuality and gender identification.

TITLE IX COORDINATOR DISCUSSES HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

ASK CONSENT OR WALK AWAY

OPINION: Friendships in college take work, two-way relationship ARIEL MCMORRIS | CONTRIBUTOR

BAILEY DOWLIN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Title IX Coordinator, Jyl Shaffer, addresses how the conversation of consent with sex must be elevated to include discussions on healthy and unhealthy relationships during an event Wednesday. JOHNNA JACKSON | CONTRIBUTOR

Although not one of the University of Cincinnati’s over 40,000 students attended a discussion on consent and healthy relationships Wednesday, the host, recently hired Title IX Coordinator Jyl Shaffer, does not see this as a bad sign. “Starting a new office, it’s like everything is happening at once,” Shaffer said.“We’re trying to build awareness, get more people out, get to know people. And a lot of that is getting people to meet me, so that they have a face that they can connect.” Shaffer, who began working as the university’s Title IX coordinator in October of 2014, chalks the poor attendance up to her recent arrival at UC. The event was scheduled as part of UC’s Healthy

Relationship Week. “When you’re new and trying to get out there, you don’t always get the chance to connect with everybody the way you want to,” Shaffer said.“I’m not upset. For me a lot of it when you’re just starting out is doing the programming and putting it out there so people go, ‘Oh. There was a thing.’ Even if they didn’t go, they get that there is somebody talking about it.” Outside of campus-wide events, Shaffer has spent most of her time facilitating discussions surrounding sex and consent with fraternities, sororities and first-year students living in the dorms. These conversations intend to get students to think critically about their own sexual relationships, especially when alcohol is involved. “Yes, in a perfect world you are always asking explicitly. In a perfect world you’re always sober, you’re never under the influence,” Shaffer said.“I understand that in reality that may look different. So, where is the moment where somebody can maybe

have a beer and give consent, but maybe they can’t. How do you judge that, and how do you think about that?” Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in the university’s programs and activities. In her position, Shaffer works to inform students of university policies and create campus awareness of issues like sexual harassment, street harassment and sexual assault. “This is the first time UC has had a dedicated Title IX coordinator,” Shaffer said.“I think it really speaks to UC. A lot of schools, even this size, are still saying, ‘Nope. We’re going to keep it a part of other duties.’ I think it really speaks to UC’s commitment that they were like, ‘We really need somebody who can just focus on this work.’ ” Shaffer believes the most important way for students to address sexual assault and violence is to learn how to be comfortable SEE CONSENT PG 3

I consider myself to be quite the professional when it comes to friendships. Why you ask? Because I have mastered the task of keeping my friendships healthy. No, I do not mean serving my friends Cheerios for their cholesterol or frying them up some tofu at a barbecue (no offense to those who enjoy a good ole tofu barbecue.) I do not have time to monitor your caloric intake either; that’s what apps are for. Having and maintaining healthy relationships is important, but friendships too often get overlooked. Now, let’s break this down. First off, what makes a friendship ‘healthy?’The MerriamWebster Dictionary defines health as the condition of being sound in body, mind or spirit, or to be in a flourishing condition. In other words, friendships should contribute to soundness of self and encourage you to succeed and thrive. Any friendship that does the opposite of that should be considered unhealthy. That does not mean that you need to run off with your sharpest pair of scissors to cut ties with anyone who doesn’t meet these standards. It just gives you a platform on which to evaluate your friendships from here on out. “Friends are extremely important because they help you through the good times and are there for you in the bad times,” said Nick Richards, a third-year student at the University of Cincinnati. For those of you now gloomily scrolling through your contact list deleting everyone except family and those random groupproject classmates, don’t lose hope; there are some signs that you can look for in your friends that may help you decide whether he or she is the Regina George to your Cady Heron or the Tina Fey to your Amy Poehler — with the latter being preferred. The first thing to look for is anything he or she does that may compromise your own concept of morality. Meaning that should your friend be heavily invested in and/or influencing you to partake in activities that you swore to yourself you’d never involve yourself in, it may be time to cut him or her loose. Lizzie Wright, a second-year student, said that she made the choice to end a relationship after realizing one of her friendships was unhealthy. SEE FRIENDSHIPS PG 3

Student Government, UC It’s On Us inform university on student code of conduct CASSIE LIPP | CHIEF REPORTER

MADISON SCHMIDT | PHOTO EDITOR

Title IX Coordinator, Jyl Shaffer (left), and Denine Rocco, assistant vice president and dean of students, discuss the need for an updated student code of conduct that includes Title IX requirements.

In an effort to remain in compliance with federal legislation and create a more transparent due process of law, the Student Code of Conduct Revision Committee has unveiled a revised code of conduct for University of Cincinnati students and student organizations. An open forum to discuss these changes was held Tuesday evening in Tangeman University Center’s MainStreet Cinema. “Our code of conduct, like any other code of conduct on a college campus, provides for rights and responsibilities for members of our community,” said Denine Rocco, associate vice president of student affairs. “From time to time, that code needs to be updated for a variety of reasons, certainly to make sure we are in compliance with changes to legislation.”

THE NEWS RECORD IS THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI’S INDEPENDENT, STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER

The key changes in the code complement Title IX, a federal law that protects people from sexual discrimination in educational institutions that receive federal financial assistance. Some of the biggest recent changes includes the implementation of a Title IX office to handle issues related to the law and a full-time Title IX coordinator. Historically, similar cases were handled by the Office of University Judicial Affairs. “Title IX really is a living, breathing law, so thinking critically about it as something that is always developing is important as we look to the code,” said Title IX Coordinator Jyl Shaffer. The revisions make clear where the Title IX office should be involved in cases, where the Office of Judicial Affairs should be involved and what rights and responsibilities each party has in investigations, Shaffer said. Shaffer said the revisions make the SEE CODE OF CONDUCT PG 3

FREE • ADDITIONAL COPIES $1


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.