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Resolution 13-01

 

By

Resolution 13-01 concerning Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment
Resolution of the Employee Forum
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
March 6, 2013

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 recent U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights complaint has underscored the importance of sexual violence 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 violence is unwanted sexual activity that can take many forms, including sexual harassment, unwanted sexual contact, and rape and sexual assault; and

WHEREAS, the majority of sexual assault cases do effect women, but a significant amount (10%)1 affect men and also effect the LGBTQIA community; and

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 and again in 2011 its unequivocal support for strong measures to prevent and, if necessary, deal with 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, 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
  • encourage HAVEN2 training for university faculty and staff to start Fall Semester 20133; and
  • encourage Safe Zone4 training for university faculty and staff to start Fall Semester 20133; 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,

 

Jacqueline E. Overton, Chair

________________________

[1] http://www.rainn.org/statistics

 

2 Helping to Advocate Violence Ending Now (HAVEN) http://safe.unc.edu/get-involved/haven-training/

 

3 https://www.change.org/petitions/chancellor-thorp-and-the-unc-board-of-trustees-take-action-against-the-culture-of-sexual-violence-and-hostility-at-unc?utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=url_share&utm_campaign=url_share_after_sign

 

4 http://lgbtq.unc.edu/index.php/programs-services/safe-zone.html

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