Greek Community Aims to Prevent Sexual Violence

The leaders of the San Diego State University Greek community today announced proactive steps their organizations will be taking to address the issue of sexual assault on the SDSU campus. With support from the division of Student Affairs, all members of the Greek community will undergo a series of trainings, participate in a number of educational events and continue to take part in campus dialogues about this important issue.

On November 25, leaders of the Greek community announced they would be developing a plan to ensure all members of the InterFraternity Council, The Panhellenic Council, the National Pan-Hellenic Council and the United Sorority and Fraternity Council become educated and engaged in this issue. Prior to lifting the voluntary suspension, the InterFraternity Council will ensure this plan is in place.

“Sexual Violence on our campus has affected too many people,” said Marc Hess, president of the IFC. “We recognize we can play a significant role in putting an end to it. These steps we are taking will not solve the issue on their own. But we hope they will be a positive influence on the culture and safety of our campus.”

Associated Students President J. Cole added “This is a first step in our part of what we hope will become a much larger discussion and effort on our campus to address this issue. We know there are a lot of people already engaged and focused on eliminating sexual violence at SDSU. Our hope is that the steps the Greek community is taking will help bring our community together and push all of those efforts forward.”

The plan is developing by the Greek community as follows:

Online Training

All fraternity and sorority members will be required to take the Agent of Change online education training.  The course, which was added to the Greek accreditation process in October, takes approximately 50 to 60 minutes to complete.  Greek leaders will be asked to review the program before January 9, 2015 when they meet for the TEAM retreat.  The leaders will discuss the training and how to effectively process the tool as part of the cultural change needed in the community.  All other fraternity and sorority members will be required to complete the course.

Sexual Violence Programming Week

The fraternity and sorority communities will present a week-long series of sexual violence programming.  The week will include the following topics in SDSU’s efforts to combat sexual violence on campus:

Bystander Training

• “Getting to Yes” Affirmative Consent Training
• FratMANers Presentation
• Sorority Women’s Leadership Forum
• “Integrative conversations between Greek leaders and other campus student leaders and students addressing sexual violence. Presentation of My Masculinity Helps (film presentations with guided reflection)

Other Spring Semester Programming

In April the InterFraternity Council will organize and facilitate the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes awareness program, where men are asked to walk a mile in women’s shoes, followed by a discussion about the role men play in these issues.  

Fraternity leaders and SDSU administration will consider new minimum units requirements for the FratMANers training course, allowing students to participate in the course sooner in their collegiate careers

Fraternity and Sorority members will support the Take Back the Night program sponsored and presented by the SDSU Andrea O’Donnell Womyn’s Outreach Association.

IFC will host a screening of The Mask I Live In to engage in conversation around masculinity

Discussions

The Greek community will continue to address, analyze and/or review issues surrounding:

• SDSU Party Culture
• Rape Culture environment on campus
• Women’s empowerment seminars including discussions on rape culture.
• Men’s issues including masculinity and sexual expectations in fraternity settings
• Risk management procedures and policies  for social events
• Best practices from other universities regarding student success and Greek recruitment processes and scheduling
• Identify and address the ways sexual violence impacts the diverse communities within Fraternity and Sorority Life

Quote from President Elliot Hirshman

“Sexual violence is a significant problem on our campus and on campuses across the country. Addressing this problem requires a significant, sustained effort to change our policies and practices, as well as our broader culture.  Education, training, and rigorous enforcement are all necessary components of this communal effort. I applaud the Greek community’s recognition of its responsibility and appreciate their efforts to join with grass-roots activists and administrative leaders in ending sexual violence on our campus.”

Quote from Eric Rivera, Vice President of Student Affairs

“The plan the Greek community has developed shows thoughtfulness and a dedication toward the shared goal of eliminating sexual violence on our campus. This is not just a Greek issue. The elements of this plan are something in which all students, faculty and staff can and should be participating. This is a great step forward in this incredibly important issue.”

Ongoing Campus Activities

Below is a list of programs and activities already in place at San Diego State University where training and education of the campus community about these important issues takes place. More information about SDSU’s activities on this issue can be found at.

Multiple training programs, highlights include:

• New Student and Parent Orientation
• Residential Advisor Training
• FratManners
• Bystander Intervention Training
• These Hands Don’t Hurt
• Behind Closed Doors
• Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Workshop
• Wellness Workshops
• Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) trainings
• Training for Faculty and Staff
• Annual Notification
• Harassment and Discrimination Training (mandatory for supervisors/managers; available for all employees)
• New Employee Orientation
• New Faculty Orientation
• Title IX Training for managers (voluntary)
• New Department Chairs Training

Annual Events - 

• RAINN Day
• Teal Ribbon Campaign
• Denim Day
• Take Back the Night
• Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Resources

• Counseling and Psych Services
• University Police
• Title IX Coordinator and Deputy Coordinators
• Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities
• Student Health Services and Health Promotions
• Employee Relations and Compliance
• Sexual Violence Task Force
• Collaborative Incident Management Team