Jackson Houska is a twenty year old, incoming second year theatre student at a well established private university in New York. 

Throughout the first year of his education, Jackson became a survivor of a physically, emotionally, and sexually abusive relationship in which he was sexually assaulted multiple times during his second semester. Even under the weight of his declining mental health, he managed to pass both semesters of his freshman year and build supportive relationships with many members of the faculty in his school who saw the warning signs of his situation and did their best to help him find help and support. He was able to successfully star in the debut of a new play during his first year showcase and impressed his professors with his tenacity and determination. He was also part of a student task force organized by the chairwoman of his department in which he worked vigilantly all year to address and ascertain solutions for infrastructural issues within the community and administration of his program and graduating class. 

Jackson was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and began treatment for it through his university’s Center for Healthy Living in March of 2022, and a mandated reporter notified the University of his situation. Due to the nature of his diagnosis, however, Jackson was advised and chose not to pursue an investigation through Title IX to avoid worsening his condition during treatment. 

The unfortunate reality is that even with his late-found support system, his grades slipped as a result of the situation which victimized him. Although he managed to pass both semesters, his cumulative GPA was not high enough to sustain his merit scholarship he received upon acceptance into the university. 

An appeal has been submitted to the university to reinstate Jackson’s scholarship. Jackson cannot return to continue his education without the money secured from his merit scholarship. Please consider signing this petition to prove to his university that Jackson is a valuable asset to his school’s community and that there is value to his voice as a survivor.