Problem
The College of Saint Scholastica plans to remove the semi-confidential reporting status for the Violence Intervention and Prevention coordinator and the members of the GEVA team effective January 15, 2019. The VIP coordinator position will be housed in the Human Resources department and report directly to the Title IX coordinator effective January 1, 2019. This position formerly resided in Student Affairs. This new policy effectively eliminates the primary role of the VIP office and the GEVA team which is to provide support and advocacy for survivors of gender-based and relationship violence for any student or employee. Under this new policy, the only campus-based source for confidential support will be through counseling services. Counseling services typically books out 3-4 weeks. Survivors of gender-based violence have experienced trauma and are in crisis in the immediate hours, days and weeks following an incident. The only other option students will have for support on campus will require the student to disclose their name and details of the incident. Online students and college employees will not have access to a campus-based source for confidential support.  This new policy negatively impacts the students and St. Scholastica community. The support provided by GEVAs to victims of sexual assault and gender based violence is crucial in the immediate hours and weeks following an assault.  This policy shifts the focus from victims and survivors of assault to an industry centered approach.  We are trying to provide the safest, most honest, student-centered environment possible for the St. Scholastica community.   The importance of GEVAs as semi-confidential reporters allows students a safe, knowledgable resource on campus while keeping the privacy s/he deserves.  

Solution
As a united student body, we value our community and hope to provide safety for our peers. We would like to come to a consensus as we work together as students, staff, and faculty. Student safety should be a top priority, and survivors of sexual assault deserve options throughout a time of crisis. Semi-Confidential reporting is an important option for students so our approach is student-centered versus the institutional-centered approach. Taking away this right would deter students from choice while causing issues with statistical reporting of incidents. This drastic revision of policy, without viable options, does not center the well-being of students at the College.