Sports | 5
Opinion | 6
Religion | 6
Lifestyle | 7
Intermurals: This week’s recap
Should we eat out on the Sabbath?
My Testimony: Delaney Fox
Student Spotlight: Southern’s Firewomen
September 26, 2019 Collegedale, Tennessee
Southern Accent
Vol. 75 Issue 3
The student voice since 1926
Paola Mora Zepeda Editor-in-Chief Numbers released by Southern’s Title IX office show that they had opened 20 cases based on reports of sexual misconduct for the year of 2018. The number increased from previous years where Southern was averaging about 15-16 cases.
Before Southern started offering Title IX training to students in 2015, there was only an average of four cases reported per year Out of the 20 cases, there were four reports of assault/aggravated assault, two of domestic violence, three of inappropriate touching/comments, two of rape, seven of stalking/harassment, one of threat and one of unwanted contact. Before Southern started offering Title IX training to students in 2015, there was only an average of four cases reported per year, according to Title IX
Coordinator and Risk Management Director Andrew Myaing. The Title IX Office has not released the number of reports for 2019, but Myaing says the results will most likely be similar to 2018. National Statistics According to Courtney Bullard, an attorney who specializes in Title IX compliance and provides Southern with legal advice regarding sexual misconduct matters, the increase in numbers is part of a national trend. “I would say, in general, reports of incidents of sexual misconduct at universities has increased,” Bullard said. “I don’t know that that means that there’s been more sexual misconduct than before, but I think awareness is increased due to news coverage of it and additional training that universities are now putting on.” A recent survey conducted by the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) found that “11.7 (percent) of students reported experiencing some form of nonconsensual sexual contact.” In addition, one
in five female students “experienced attempted or completed sexual assault while in college.” Additional research reported
Nationwide, one in five female students “experienced attempted or completed sexual assault while in college.” by the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) found that 4.2 percent of college students had experienced some form of stalking. Earlier this month, an anonymously authored Twitter account under the handle @ OUmetoo1 shared accusations of sexual misconduct relating to Oakwood University. The accusations were sent in by students and alumni who claimed the Alabama-based university was not properly handling reports of sexual assault. The account
Southern students take part in global strike
has since been deleted, but the hashtag #OUmetoo can still be found. On Sept. 6, Oakwood University President Leslie Pollard issued a statement stating that the university was evaluating its current campus safety, security measures and support services. On Sept. 22, the university also held a workshop on how bystanders can intervene and report cases of sexual misconduct. Oakwood also started offering R.A.D. Self Defense Classes for Women. What is Title IX Title IX is a federal civil rights law passed in June of 1972 that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual misconduct, in any educational program or activity. In 2011, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a “Dear Colleague” letter that reminded schools of their obligations to prevent and take action against sexual misconduct or violence. As a recipient of federal funding, Southern is required to comply with the Department
of Education and follow the Title IX program. Southern’s Progress Southern cases of sexual misconduct are reported to Myaing. Cases are then referred to one of two deputy coordinators--one who handles student-only related cases, and the other who handle cases involving employees. Depending on the information and the level of severity, the cases are then sent to an investigator who finally directs them to a panel. The hearing panel then adjudicates the cases and determines the
Of students reported experiencing some form of nonconsensual sexual contact. conclusions and consequences, if warranted, of the case. See MISCONDUCT on page 3
Diversity at Southern
L-R Jeremy Salkey, Yulissa Lara and Julie Pereira laugh in class. Photo courtesy of Marketing & University Relations
Maria Jose Moran Religion Editor
L-R Giselle Valasquez, Allison Carbaugh, Kimberly Kenny-Maclure, Daniel Hasel, and Christina Coston. Photo courtesy of Daniel Hasel
Nicole Dominguez Lead Reporter On Sept. 20, Chattanooga joined the world by taking part in a local Global Climate Strike. Among the dozens of protesters who attended the event was a group of Southern students. The purpose of the event was to protest against the destruction of the planet by fossil fuels. According to the event website, about six million students from 150 countries around the world came together to address the issue of excess carbon emis-
sions and the abuse of fossil fuels on the environment. These strikes are the brainchild of 16-year-old environmental activist Greta Thunberg in an effort to bring awareness of the effects of climate change. The strike was strategically timed to occur three days before the UN Climate Change Summit in New York City. Southern students, such as China Mae Brisco, junior English major, said that climate change is a reality that should not be ignored. “Students at Southern cannot
be ignorant of climate change because it is happening now,” Brisco said. “From all corners of the world there is evidence that human destruction is happening. This campus needs to be aware of changes going on around them so they can rise to action.” Some Southern students have expressed that they care about the environment and the effects of climate change. However, because of the lack of awareness about events, they are unable to take part in events such as the See STRIKE on page 3
According to the 2020 listings of the U.S. News and World Report, Southern Adventist University is now the most diverse school in the Southern region. The Southern region includes all universities from the twelve different states between the south of West Virginia and the east of Arkansas. The report is based on each institution’s data from Fall 2018 and takes into consideration major ethnic groups in the We don’t have a single ethnic group on our campus that represents a majority, which will make us more democratic and inclusive. country. The report excludes international students, but includes people from “non-Hispanic African-American, Hispanic, American Indian, Pacific
Islander/Native Hawaiian, Asian, non-Hispanic white and multiracial (two or more races)” backgrounds. “The significance [of this title] is tied to the concept of inclusiveness,” said President David Smith. “We don’t have a single ethnic group on our campus that represents a majority, which will make us more democratic and inclusive.” Along with faculty, students have also expressed the importance of receiving the title. “A lot of the time when you think about the South, it can discourage students because you might feel like you don’t fit in,” said Jasmine Ramirez, sophomore nursing major. Others expressed that while our campus is diverse, Southern could do more to represent everyone. “I think it’s great that as an Adventist school we show that See DIVERSITY on page 2