POTSDAM â In the 10 days since SUNY Potsdam students popped a bubble surrounding campus sexual violence and harassment, a Title IX Task Force has begun its work.
Headed by Interim Chief Diversity Officer Claudia J. Ford, also an environmental studies professor, the Task Force met once all together last week, and four subcommittees met this week. Ms. Ford briefed the SUNY Potsdam College Council on the Task Forceâs emerging work Friday morning during the final council meeting of the academic year.
The group of faculty and administrators is charged with reviewing the processes â particularly associated with Title IX â policies, resources and training related to sexual violence, harassment and stalking. Subcommittees are focusing on student support, investigations, networking and training. The full Task Force is planning to meet again April 23, then clarify how students can become directly involved with the group.
EDITORâS NOTE: This story contains descriptions of sexual assault and harassment.
POTSDAM â By the time SUNY Potsdam students concluded hours of protest, Wednesdayâs sun had set.
But it wasnât an ending.
Rally and forum participants â survivors of campus sexual assault and harassment, and their supporters â said they feel unheard, unseen and unsupported by the university.
Marching from the Ives Park intersection toward SUNY Potsdamâs Satterlee Hall, about 30 people rallied against campus sexual misconduct. Allegations against SUNY Potsdam faculty members surfaced over the weekend on social media platforms â both Facebook and Instagram â and concerns about the universityâs Title IX procedure drew students downtown and dozens more to simultaneous virtual forums.