DE PERE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Students and staff are uniting at St. Norbert College to express concerns about the college’s response to sexual violence and other Title IX issues.
Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on sex, including sexual harassment, assault, and rape.
With a nationwide focus on the handling of sexual assaults, more than 200 students at St. Norbert signed a letter this spring stating their school wasn’t doing enough in prevention and helping victims.
“We deserve to feel safe on this campus,” said Neale Tracy, a sophomore. “This is our home.”
Tracy helped draft the letter in April, which outlines problems and requests for change.
Five months later, more than 100 St. Norbert faculty members signed a letter of their own this week in support of the students’ concerns.
A letter from St. Norbert College faculty and staff in support of St. Norbert students and community.
Tracy tells FOX 11 that action means a lot.
“Their support means more to us as students than I think they understand and more than I have the words for.”
The students’ letter was to St. Norbert College President Brian Bruess.
“When we received it, we engaged immediately with the group that submitted it, the students group and set forth to address each of their concerns.”
Some of the students’ requests included Title IX training for faculty and staff, public awareness and increased programming, transparency, and reinstituting the Green Dot bystander program.
FOX 11 asked Bruess whether he believes he has addressed or is on the path to addressing the students’ concerns.
“I can say with great confidence that every single item from the spring letter has either already been implemented or has been moved into the working group for consideration.”
“I don’t feel there was a ton of action taken on it until the past couple weeks, which has been frustrating, but with the events happening and the climate that we’re in right now, I think we’re in a really good spot to start change,” said Tracy.
Tracy says transparency and assault reporting are two specific areas that could use more improvement.
Bruess says he is committed to working with the students and the school will review any complaint it receives.
The staff letter was issued Tuesday.
It says the staff echoes the students’ concerns while acknowledging positive steps the administration has taken to implement changes.
