Tackling Vanderbilt Athletics' Sexual Misconduct

Tackling Vanderbilt Athletics' Sexual Misconduct

Started
July 29, 2020
Petition to
Signatures: 835Next Goal: 1,000
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Why this petition matters

To put it simply Vanderbilt has a problem. We have a problem with rape culture. We have a problem with silencing survivors. And most of all, we have a problem with not acting to correct an issue that has existed for decades. 2020 is a year of systemic change. It is a year in which action must be taken without hesitation. In signing this petition you demand the following changes.

Athletic Demands

  • Adopt Yale's practice of disclosing incident summaries and data to define how the university publicly reports complaints of sexual misconduct.
    • Host a semesterly town hall in which all students, faculty and staff of Vanderbilt are welcome to discuss the report. Head coaches, Athletic Director, student athlete development staff, a representative from the Athletics office of compliance, and a Project Safe representative must attend.
  • Create an internal review board consisting of faculty and staff across campus and an external review board consisting of sexual assault awareness and prevention educators not associated with Vanderbilt.
  • Adoption of the Tracy Rule.
  • Each team will create transparent rules to address acts of sexual misconduct and interpersonal violence. These rules must include:
    • The removal of images of all athletes or staff implicated in any forms of sexual misconduct. 
    • Suspension of participation in team volunteering and fan engagement activities until a Title IX investigation has been completed and/or an internal review has taken place.
  • The Athletic Department will provide a yearly renewing contract and office space in the department to a representative selected by Project Safe who will:
    • Spearhead educational content for athletes, coaches and staff as the representative, in consultation with the Director of Project Safe, deems fit. 
    • Consult with the Marketing Department appropriateness of athletes used to represent the department on promotional material

University Demands

  • Expand Project Safe’s budget to accommodate the hiring of three new staff members and/or double the amount of programming that is currently possible.
  • Commit to relocate or construct a larger and more accessible building to house Project Safe.
  • Anyone found guilty of a Title IX offense and expelled by Student Accountability will be banned from campus, Athletics facilities, and Vanderbilt events during the appeals period and after the expulsion is finalized.
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Signatures: 835Next Goal: 1,000
Support now
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