SU and Title Mine Host Town Hall Explaining WU's Title IX Guidance for Student Groups

The independent newspaper of Washington University in St. Louis since 1878 VOLUME 142, NO. 13 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021 WWW.STUDLIFE.COM Check out this year’s issue of Student Love STUD BROWSER ‘Our safety hangs in the balance’: Students SU and demand WU take action to prevent sexual violence Title Mine host town hall explaining WU’s Title IX guidance for student groups TED MOSKAL SENIOR NEWS EDITOR Student Union and Title Mine, a survivor-focused activist group on campus, held a town hall, Feb. 4, with Washington University admin- MORAD SULIMAN | STUDENT LIFE istrators to discuss new guidelines One of the posters placed around campus leading up to the “Wash. U. Has a Problem” event, demanding that the University take more action against campus sexual for student groups regarding Title violence. The protest, a part of a movement spanning college campuses nationwide, was brought to Wash. U. by organizers of the @metoo_washu Instagram account. IX issues in light of the Trump administration’s changes to federal ORLI SHEFFEY violence problem” and “Wash. U. of sexual violence and demanded McDermott, who is concentrat- policy. NEWS EDITOR has a rape problem.” Chalked mes- that the University abolish Greek ing in Violence and Trauma in Former U.S. Secretary of sages included phrases such as “I Life. According to Washington Communities at the Brown School Education Betsy DeVos issued new In a protest titled “Wash. U. believe you even if Title IX doesn’t” University’s 2019 AAU Campus of Social Work, attended the pro- federal Title IX guidelines over the Has a Problem,” which was orga- and quotes from Tarana Burke, the Climate Survey, 15.7% of sexual test and said that she wants the summer increasing protections for nized by the group in charge of the creator of the #MeToo movement. assaults involving physical force or University to implement policies those accused of sexual misconduct, Instagram account @metoo_washu, Online, the account @metoo_ incapacitation occured in fraternity that are trauma-informed and center prompting backlash and condem- students gathered in small groups washu encouraged students who houses. Additionally, an SU Senate on survivors. nation from a number of higher across campus to demand that were unable to participate in the survey from this summer found that “A lot of the past has been like education institutions and civil Washington University take action in-person event to protest virtually 65.13% of students favored the abo- ‘survivors meet with your abusers rights groups. These guidelines have to prevent sexual violence and sup- on Feb. 8 by changing their Zoom lition of Greek Life. or meet with people who have per- not yet been repealed by the Biden port survivors, Feb. 7. backgrounds and posting photos @metoo_washu demanded that petrated violence and like unity and administration, although he prom- The protest was part of a nation- on social media with the hashtag the University modify the Student hold hands and hug’ and that’s non- ised in November to do so. wide event on college campuses #WashUHasAProblem. Gender Equity Grievance Process sense,” McDermott said. Since the new regulations went around the world, which was “Although the survivors in our (SGEGP) to prohibit questions McDermott added that she wants into effect in August, adminis- planned by the University Survivors community have different visions regarding a survivor’s sexual history professors to be more lenient with trators have struggled to rewrite Movement, an international orga- for justice and accountability, we with the perpetrator and to shorten students actively experiencing Washington University’s policies nization with the goal of ending stand united in our refusal to accept the investigation timeline to 60 days. trauma, including allowing flexible in a way that provides the highest sexual violence at colleges and administrative failure regarding In addition, the account advocates attendance and deadlines. level of support possible to survivors universities. sexual violence prevention,” the for the establishment of a transfor- “There’s such a big push for while still following federal rules. In order to follow COVID-19 president of @metoo_washu wrote mative justice process, creation of academia and rigor and that’s not “I think we can all agree that the guidelines, organizers divided pro- in a statement to Student Life. mandatory prevention program- always trauma informed and that guidance doesn't feel good, and testers into small groups to chalk The president of @metoo_washu ming that addresses the intersection doesn’t always benefit anybody but doesn't feel like it serves students messages and post flyers across cited the 2019 AAU Campus of systems of oppression and sexual the University,” McDermott said. in the way that we wanted to,” campus and outside administrative Climate Survey, which found that violence, creation of affinity-based “I just would like people to be able Director of the Relationship and offices. 42.5% of female-identifying stu- survivor support groups at the to be here studying and educating Sexual Violence Prevention Center In addition to hanging flyers that dents experienced sexual violence Washington University Rape and safely and having their health and Kim Webb said. “But I also think listed demands for the University during their time at Washington Sexual Violence Prevention Center well-being prioritized more than sta- that we have to be really careful to and resources for survivors, protest- University. This is three points (RSVP) and expansion of mental tus and clout and grades and GPA follow the guidance so that we don't ers spread awareness about sexual higher than the national average. health services that include more and all those things that don’t really put students who are going through violence on campus with flyers that Leading up to the protest, @ counselors with marginalized matter at the end of the day.” a process in a worse place.” read “Wash. U. has a consent prob- metoo_washu posted about the role identities. lem,” “Wash. U. has a sexual of Greek Life in the perpetuation Graduate student Laura SEE PROTEST, PAGE 2 SEE TITLE IX, PAGE 3 Businesses on Delmar Loop adapt to changing pandemic landscape GRACE KENNARD Edwards mentioned spending a we sort of got back our community to constantly adapt to changing store, but academic departments NEWS EDITOR considerable sum of money to fund even though it was outside.” COVID-19 restrictions was the at the University have created a safety features at Blueberry Hill, Many small businesses like biggest challenge for her business lasting relationship. Subterranean Local businesses on the Delmar including raising booth divider Meshuggah were forced to pivot during the pandemic. Books has carried coursebooks Loop have faced a variety of heights and installing hand sani- their business models throughout “As soon as you figure out one for over fifteen years for classes unique challenges over the past tizer stations. Similarly, Mission the year. For Kaslow and her cafe, thing, things change and you have at the University, most of them year, from mandatory shutdowns Taco adapted the waiting area at the transition to online ordering to quickly come up with something in the English Department. The in March to a closure of indoor their Delmar location to allow was a major change. else and put new systems in place bookstore’s website even has a dining in St. Louis County in guests space to wait for their table “I, to be honest, never even and fine-tune those systems,” von dedicated section for coursebooks November. The spread of COVID- outside. answered my phone because the Plonski said. “So by this point at the University that is frequently 19 and frequently changing Jen Kaslow, owner of focus for the coffee shop is just everything is fine-tuned, but it updated. guidelines have contributed to the Meshuggah Cafe, noted that about the community,” Kaslow takes a while and we definitely “The professors and instruc- difficulties that small businesses University City allowed the cafe to said. “I don’t really want to have an have appreciated our custom- tors, the University, particularly have grappled with over the past extend the patio seating into park- online presence...but zero chance ers’ patience in working with the English Department has really year. ing spots to allow for more tables, we were going to survive under us as we work through constant also reached out and given us a lot Restaurants have faced some of which helped morale and business. that model, so we had to switch to adaptations.” of support over [this] semester,” the largest hurdles to safely reopen. “It was really sad at the begin- online ordering and figure out how Despite the challenges, both von Plonski said. “There are a lot Several Loop restaurant owners, ning because the whole reason for to navigate that.” Kaslow and von Plonski praised of University-specific orders that including Joe Edwards, owner of the coffee shop is to be a commu- Similar to Meshuggah, the regional support from the people placed with us, not just Peacock Loop Diner, Blueberry nity gathering place and so to not Subterranean Books was forced Washington University community individuals, but through the depart- Hill and Pin Up Bowl, had to phys- have that community was really sad to make some adjustments to its and local residents. Von Plonski ment, and that was really nice.” ically change how their spaces were for all of us,” she said. “But then business model. Owner Kelly described how University students operating. once [we transitioned to outdoors], von Plonski said that the need have contributed revenue to the SEE LOOP, PAGE 3 CONTACT BY POST CONTACT BY EMAIL CONTACT BY PHONE ONE BROOKINGS DRIVE #1039 [email protected] NEWSROOM 314.935.5995 #320 DANFORTH UNIVERSITY CENTER [email protected] ADVERTISING 314.935.4240 ST.

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