The Campus Climate 2024 survey is active, but not many students know about it. “I feel like something of that significance should have been pushed a little harder for the students to at least recognize that is resource for them, but I know institutions – just, like, higher level education – it’s just a whole bunch of saving face,” biology major Cameron McPherson said.
He said ” I genuinely had no idea,” in response if he knew the survey existed. Hatlee Jackson, a biology major, also expressed her concerns. “They wanna sweep things under the rug because they don’t want people to be like ‘oh I don’t want to go to Winthrop cause they have this, this and this”.
The campus climate survey is designed to collect data on the prevalence of sexual assault at Winthrop. This can be from personal experience of the perspective of another peer. Title IX Coordinator Kevin Sheppard explained the purpose of the survey. “This survey was designed to assess unwanted sexual experiences on campus, and will help us answer questions such as: How often do unwanted sexual experiences happen on campus? What are the consequences? To whom do students report these incidents? How do students feel about the school’s response to cases of sexual misconduct? How can prevention efforts be improved? he said.
This survey is important because of the safety of students and any person at Winthrop because of the rising number of rape. Five were reported in 2022 and two in 2021. One of the cases was in 2021, the was in 2021, the same year a campus Climate survey was halted. Reason for that included the COVID-19 Pandemic and updated federal guidance. Per an email from President and updated federal guidance related to Title IX policy and the federal 2022 Appropations Act.”
That case involved a male suspect who made his way into Phleps Hall and sexually assaulted a female resident who was alone in her dorm room around 10 a.m. on Nov. 16 of that year. WUPD never found the suspect. The case was eventually closed. This past week, an incident happened at Campus Walk. Biology major and Walk 2Campus resident Katelyn Philson addressed her concern for her safety. “There was a homeless lady – and she was sleeping there – and the doors all unlocked. All of our doors are unlocked, so anybody can walk in,” Philson said.
The residence may no be on campus, but WUPD has jurisdiction in that area. If there is a prevalent theme surrounding one particular issue more than any other, we will prioritize assessing the best way to immediately address the concerns around that issue. That being said, all of the issues are important to us, but we do want to take a focused approach in how we address the information gained from the survey,” Sheppard said.
“The survey results will provide a summary for the administration which is estimated to be completed by late Spring 2024. The results should be available to the University community as a whole during the Fall 2024 semester, if not sooner,” Shappard said. If you been sexually assaulted, you can call WUPD at (803) – 323 – 3333 to make a report which may be done anonymously. You can also report anonymously online or use Winthrop’s counseling facility located on the third floor of Joynes Hall. Health Services is open from 8:30 – 4 p.m. on weekdays and closed from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. for lunch.
