GREENSBORO, N.C. — North Carolina A&T State University has made changes to how it handles Title IX related matters. This comes after a sexual assault case in February, which led to the resignation of two cheerleading coaches.
Moving forward, Chancellor Harold L. Martin set up a campus-wide Sexual Assault Committee made up of students, faculty, and staff in an effort to address issues of sexual violence at the university. The committee came up with key recommendations towards ensuring the safety and well being of all students and staff.
Here are the six recommendations and changes made by the school's administration:
1) Title IX will now report to the Office of Legal Affairs under the oversight of the General Counsel. Additional investigators will be hired and report to the office of Legal Affairs. This change will ensure constant monitoring of the dynamic and evolving nature of Title IX and other federal laws in this area.
2) There's now a full-time position focused exclusively on enforcement and enhancing investigating capacity. The person in this position will also provide ongoing training and educational materials on Title IX protections, responsibilities and resources to students and staff.
3) The sexual misconduct hearing process will be redesigned and separated from the regular conduct hearing process within Student Affairs. Communication will be enhanced to ensure the timely sharing of information regarding reports.
4) University Police will receive additional sexual assault response training for law enforcement beginning this fall.
5) Enhancements to the coordination of sexual assault victim care between Student Health Services and Counseling services beginning this fall
6) A new position in the department of athletics will be created to serve as a departmental resource for student-athletes who are survivors of domestic or sexual violence to ensure they are aware of the process and institutional support services available to students, understand how to access them, how investigative and hearing processes work, and how to file a report with police.
The news of the change was a welcome development for the former cheerleader at the center of a recent rape reporting controversy.
"It was worth it, I mean it was worth it, all the hate, all the threats, it was worth it," said sophomore Raina Gee who was a freshman when the rape happened. The former A&T cheer squad member went public about the November Rape incident. She said she informed coaching staff, but they did nothing she said.
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The University benched the squad and after investigations found they violated Title IX requirements, the coaches resigned.The incident resulted in a committee, which came up with the new recommendations that formed the core of the sweeping changes.
"Aggies speak out when they see something. This university is doing better because I spoke out and other students spoke out and I am glad that's being done. I am just glad they made something, they now have something this year that they didn't have last year," added Gee.
