Campus Safety: Empowering Students

“On average, the campus receives six reports of sexual harassment each school year. The impact on individual students’ mental health, academic performance, and overall well-being can be profound”. Fara Adams, Union Adventist University’s Title IX Coordinator, made this statement, and in hopes of battling these statistics, organized a series of safety workshops for students to participate in here on campus. On January 13 the first of these workshops was held; this session for women only. The second installment, exclusively for men, is scheduled to take place on January 23. Both events were scheduled from 7-8 p.m. and were separated to ensure that the learning environment was gender specific and felt as comfortable and safe as possible for each participating student. 

For those that are unfamiliar, Title IX is a federal civil rights law that enforces protection from sex discrimination in educational institutions. Fara shared the reason and means through which she has taken up this work. “I have served in my role as Title IX Coordinator for four years and complete annual training through a national organization.  It has been on my heart to do more to prevent these situations from happening to our students.  I consulted with area crisis centers and other higher education institutions to understand effective strategies to support students and am moving forward to implement these on our campus”. She also cited inspiration from former OTA students that held a similar workshop in years past, saying she was, “inspired by the passion of our students… and the energy they put into it”.

Union values student safety and displays their dedication to ongoing prevention through workshops such as these. In the University’s Safety Report it says, “Education – the business of the university – can only take place in an environment in which each student and staff member feels safe. The university administration recognizes this and has made security a top priority”. Union hopes to equip their students with all of the tools and skills they may need to face the inevitable challenges of life. It takes the work of each and every student to make the campus a safer place.

For any questions regarding the topics covered here or interest in future events reach out to Fara Adams through email at fara.adams@uau.edu or at (402-486-2600 ext. 2481). Further questions regarding safety and security can be directed toward Dustin Sauder, the Director of Campus Safety at dustin.sauder@uau.edu or at (402-486-2600 ext. 2197).

by Olivia Sweet