Sexual Assault Awareness Month
April 6, 2017
From Margo Griffith, director, Office of Diversity and Equal OpportunityApril marks the first month of my tenure as director and, nationally, is designated as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. I am excited about my new assignment and solving the challenges ahead – and even more excited to think about the positive impacts we can make at the university and within the Fairbanks community.
I thank the ODEO staff, Kevin Calderara and Ana Richards, who are working hard every day to promote diversity and inclusion and foster the intent of the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and Title IX. They’ve kept making forward progress and are passionate about their roles here. I look forward to working with them both.
Because ODEO’s role impacts everyone at UAF, you are going to see more of me and my staff as we visit departments to speak with students and employees over the next several months and in the long term.
My charge is to foster an environment where students and employees feel safe, are provided equal opportunities and are part of a welcoming UAF community. This can be achieved with an office that is well-staffed with highly trained and driven personnel, operating with efficient and transparent processes and with effective two-way communication between the office and the people we serve.
A recruitment for an investigator is underway with interviews starting mid-April, a position description for a deputy Title IX coordinator/case manager is drafted, and ODEO staff are attending trainings in areas of Title IX, equal opportunity and ADA.
In addition to getting the department appropriately staffed and trained, we've made progress on tasks listed in UAF’s Voluntary Resolution Agreement with the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights. I met with several students, employees and community members to get feedback and to open the lines of communication. In addition, ODEO will partnering with departments and hosting events to promote safety, diversity and inclusion.
Please consider participating in activities offered throughout the month April. The goal is to raise public awareness and prevention of sexual violence. You can take a stand against sexual assault by joining others within UAF, communities across Alaska and the country.
If you are concerned about a UAF student, faculty or staff member, or concerned about behaviors a UAF community member is displaying, the Behavioral Invention Team is available to assist with early intervention and ensure the safety of the campus. Reporting concerns is essential to this system working.
We all have a role in safety, diversity, equal opportunity and inclusion at UAF. I firmly believe that as a community we will come together to make this a safer, more inclusive learning and work environment. I look forward to partnering with you to bring this to fruition. Thank you for all that you do at UAF, and I wish you a happy and healthy spring.