University of Colorado Student Union
Legislative Council
February 3, 2009 70LCB05
Sponsored by: Alexis Smith Diversity Director
Dustin Farivar Tri-Executive
Neil Walia Representative at Large
Authored by: Alexis Smith Diversity Director Dustin Farivar Tri-Executive
A Bill to Create a Gender Violence Task Force
Bill History
Gender violence affects every college campus community across the nation and sexual assault remains one of the most underreported crimes.
In 2004, the University of Colorado at Boulder (the University) was impacted by the “football scandal”; it involved numerous allegations of sexual assault incidents between football recruits and female students. Lisa Simpson, a student who claimed she was sexually assaulted by football recruits in 2004, sued the University and reached a settlement in December of 2007. As a result of the settlement, the University was required to create a half time position—the Gender Violence Prevention and Education Coordinator. The position is charged with providing education and training on gender violence prevention to students, staff, and faculty. In an effort to sustain ongoing education, training, and collaboration among UCSU members and the larger University community, the Gender Violence Prevention Task Force was developed.
Bill Summary
This bill will create a Gender Violence Task Force that is formally charged with the responsibility of researching, managing and monitoring issues regarding gender violence and applying proper training and education.
Setting up a task force to take on these responsibilities will result in more collaboration and involvement by the University of Colorado Student Union in the responsibility for providing an inclusive approach to safety, gender issues, and diversity education at the University.
THEREFORE BE IT ENACTED:
SECTION 1: This bill creates a Gender Violence Task Force, which will report to the Legislative Council.
SECTION 2: All members of the Task Force shall be ratified by Legislative Council and will be composed in the following manner:
1. One (1) member of Legislative Council to be appointed by the Legislative Council President.
2. The UCSU Diversity Director
3. The UCSU Health and Safety Director
4. Up to ten (10) students-at-large to be nominated by the Tri-Executives, Diversity Director and/or Gender Violence Prevention Coordinator and appointed by majority approval of Legislative Council
5. At least two (2) faculty and/or staff representatives
a. The University of Colorado Gender Violence and Prevention and Education Coordinator
b. One (1) faculty and/or staff member-at-large
SECTION 3: The Chair or the Task Force shall be a student-at-large
selected by majority vote of the task force and ratified by Legislative
Council.
SECTION 4: The Responsibilities and purpose of the Task Force will include but are not limited to the following:
1. To educate members about gender violence with special influences on, but not limited to, oppression and the Big 8, as defined by Student Affairs Diversity Committee
2. To inform the Gender Violence and Prevention Education Coordinator on gender violence issues on campus as they directly affect students, staff and faculty
3. To establish peer education and awareness around issues of gender violence and social justice as it pertains to and intersects with gender violence
4. To provide resources in regard to issues of gender violence, bystander intervention training, and peer education/mentoring
SECTION 5: The Chair of the Task Force shall give a formal presentation regarding the work of the Task Force on campus to the Legislative Council once a semester.
SECTION 6: UCSU Legislative and Executive staff will support the Gender Violence Task Force to the fullest of its capabilities, particularly when gender violence needs are not being met.
SECTION 7: Gender Violence education and training shall be an integral part of Diversity Education for UCSU Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches as pursuant with 58LCB#12.
SECTION 8: This bill takes effect upon passage by Legislative Council and upon obtaining the signature of the Legislative Council President and the Tri-executives.
SECTION 9: A ratified member of the Gender Violence Prevention Task Force shall appointed to sit on the Sexual Assault Sexual Harassment (SA/SH) committee.
Vote Count
2/19/09 Passed Acclamation
2/26/09 Passed Acclamation
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Blaine Pellicore, Legislative Council President Ryan Biehle, UCSU Tri-executive
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Dustin Farivar, UCSU Tri-executive Victoria Garcia, UCSU Tri-executive