Dive Brief:
- University of Virginia President Teresa Sullivan on Monday called on students, faculty, and alumni to help fix a “broken” culture at the university and find “real solutions” to the school’s sexual assault problem.
- The president, Teresa Sullivan, outlined a plan that included examining the university’s alcohol and binge-drinking policies, developing contracts with fraternities and sororities to ensure the safety of party attendees, and providing bystander training for intervening in potential sexual assaults.
- The university will also hire an additional trauma counselor for its Women’s Center, provide training for police on dealing with rape victims, conduct an annual anonymous sexual assault survey, and step up police presence on campus, the Daily Progress reported.
Dive Insight:
Sullivan’s speech follows the disturbing Rolling Stone article published last month that graphically described a victim’s account of a gang rape at a fraternity, as well as a campus culture that encourages sexual assaults. Sullivan needed to take drastic action in the face of the public outcry over the article. So far, the university has suspended student Greek organizations until next semester, buying time to implement some sexual assault and student safety reforms. The university plans to add a police substation, increase patrols, and hire new unarmed security to help students on weekends.