In the United States, on-campus sexual violence is widespread. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, it has been reported that: “among undergraduate students, 23.1% of females and 5.4% of males experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation” and “among graduate and professional students, 8.8% of females and 2.2% of males experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation.” Cal Lutheran University insists that sexual misconduct is a violation of the university’s mission, although evidence surrounding prior Title IX reports has made victims feel as if their safety is not a priority. 

At Cal Lutheran, survivors feel as if their voices are being silenced through current Title IX procedures. While the university has reporting procedures regarding harassment and assault, the act of simply having a reporting procedure in place is inadequate if investigators fail to act in a timely manner, operate under conflict of interests leading to a biased investigation process, and fail to provide adequate safety and resources to victims throughout the investigation process. 

Current Title IX staff do not take survivors’ grievances seriously through issues such as (but not limited to): 

1. unprofessional handling of sexual harassment/assault/stalking investigations as reported by students involved in the process, such as failure to notify students of changes to investigation reports, or failure to act in (generally) timely manner. 
2. conflicts of interest within investigations having Title IX coordinators hold multiple other management positions on campus.
3. not addressing the rights of students to retain their Title IX report following an investigation
4. little campus wide training or advocacy for survivors’ resources prior to and following an assault. 

The standard for Title IX reporting and investigating needs to be changed for the good of students, faculty, and public safety at Cal Lutheran University. 

*This petition does not have any association with any on-campus publications cited and does not reflect the opinions of reporters or Cal Lutheran staff.*