To the Loyola University Maryland Administration,

The student body unequivocally condemns the epidemic of sexual violence that has been taking place on our campus. Time and time again, we watch the senior administration fail to take action to keep their students safe. This is a direct result of the administration cultivating a culture that protects sexual violence perpetrators and not survivors. 

The Women’s Center and Title IX offices fail to report cases of rape and assault. The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report consists of inaccurate data. The Loyola Police make students uncomfortable and do not offer adequate services escorting students. They are not monitored. A Loyola Police officer has been accused of assaulting a student. Non-contact orders are not properly secure or enforced. Students who were drugged are being reprimanded and sent to substance screening. Maryland Good Samaritan laws are not applied to our students. Survivors are gaslit and made to feel vilified. We have yet to see the school address the disturbing stories presented by the Do Better Campaign. 

We are exhausted by the administrative negligence of campus sexual violence. Should you choose to incorporate the changes outlined in this letter into your policies, actions, and attitudes, it will show us not only that you care, but also that you understand this epidemic as a threat to us all. Without your active and enthusiastic participation, this crisis will continue to prevail and generate thousands of more survivors. We issue these demands for all of the survivors that you can still help and all of the students who you can still protect from survivorship. It is crucial that the administration actively participates in finding meaningful solutions to these issues.

Our demands are as follows:

WE DEMAND that Loyola formally and specifically addresses the Do Better Campaign, as it is long overdue. 

WE DEMAND that all mandated sexual violence, consent, and prevention education programs are reviewed yearly by anti-sexual violence and other anti-violence/oppression activist groups on campus, the student body at-large, and an external, impartial, non-profit body dedicated to sexual violence prevention.

WE DEMAND that the results of the aforementioned program assessment be addressed clearly in a direct communication from senior administrators to the community at large. 

WE DEMAND that the Title IX Coordinators are formally approved by anti-sexual violence and other anti-violence/oppression activist groups on campus, the student body at-large, and an external, impartial, non-profit body dedicated to sexual violence prevention. 

WE DEMAND that all Loyola Police officers are equipped with body-worn cameras to provide transparency and accountability. The state of Maryland requires all Maryland Law Enforcement agencies to be equipped with a BWC system by 2025. Towson University implemented this program this past Spring, and we demand Loyola implements this by the end of the 2022 Academic year.

WE DEMAND that the Women’s Center and Title IX record each and every proven and alleged case. Many students have reported that their reports were not recorded. To those who were told their cases would be reported by faculty and/or the Women’s Center, their cases must be included in the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. The 2020 version contains severely inaccurate data and a disturbing lack of reported cases. 

WE DEMAND that the students are informed of the existence of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report is made more accessible on the website. 

WE DEMAND that Loyola abide by the Maryland Good Samaritan law and protect students from punishment for drug and alcohol violations when reporting sexual assaults, overdoses, and alcohol poisoning. Penalizing students who report these things prevents reporting and further endangers students.

WE DEMAND that a rule is implemented that in circumstance of a harassment and/or sexual violence incident, public safety must review the surveillance from the reported incident alongside the student filing the report.

We expect a response that includes a detailed plan and timeline. We graciously give the Loyola Senior Administration 100 days from our demonstration to enact these changes that we so desperately need on our campus. You have until January 9th, 2022 to make the necessary steps for keeping us safe. This leaves Loyola until one week prior to the beginning of the Spring 2022 Semester. If any of the aforementioned demands are unable to be met before this date, we expect a publicly stated explanation as to why. 

Signed,

The Loyola University of Maryland Student Body