The Title IX ambassador initiative, a program through which students are able to influence workshops, programs, training and the implementation of required Title IX regulations, is recruiting for the spring 2022 semester.
The program was announced in an email from Kevin Sheppard, Title IX coordinator and ADA compliance officer, on March 22. In addition to giving feedback on behalf of the campus community on trainings and the implementation of regulations, ambassadors will also be trained on Winthrop’s policies and procedures about formal reporting and resources available on and off campus for sexual assault survivors.
“One thing that I believe is that the students want a greater voice in developing policy, in assisting and developing training and education, programming and support. And so this initiative is to get that student engagement. We have to have some type of organization into what we’re doing,” Sheppard said.
Ambassadors have no obligation to report sexual misconduct, allowing them to speak confidentially with those in the community without feeling a responsibility to report what they learn. Sheppard said he hopes this will allow ambassadors and community members to have “open and honest conversations.”
Sheppard said he is not looking for any particular number of people to be ambassadors. Rather, he wants to recruit diverse students to get a full picture of campus. Currently, 20 students have applied, but Sheppard said he wants at least 1% of the student population, or around 50 students, in the program.
The program is being modeled after a program developed by Santa Monica College, which Sheppard said is the standard for similar programs around the country.
“From what I saw, and from the reviews and everyone that I spoke with that have had some interaction with that, from students, former students that went through the program, as well as the coordinator that put the program together, [they] stated that it provided … better morale on their campus of actual student engagement in the process,” he said.
Sheppard stressed that the program was not in response to the concerns students have had on campus but is a proactive step to get more students involved to mitigate future complaints and misunderstandings.
“I am pleading for student engagement, to come and talk to me, to come and meet with me and not make presumptions, but really give me a chance to hear their concerns, and at least try to do some of the things that they want to have done,” he said.
Three film screenings with Q&As, sponsored by the Title IX office, are coming up on April 12, April 19 and April 21. Similar to the “The Hunting Ground” screening and Q&A, each film will relate to sexual misconduct. More details are coming in an email to all students soon, according to Sheppard.
