Moesha Facey
Friday, November 15, “Chicken for Change" was held at the Horning Towers. This event was led by resident assistants Thomas Stokes (C’26) and Chris Neil (C’26), aimed to educate students about Title IX and inform them about acceptable and unacceptable behaviors in relationships to prevent misconduct.
Other resident assistants in attendance included Afua Adamu (C’26), Abigail Smith (C’26), Bryant Martinez (C’26) and Noah Enyiji(C’26.
Students were treated to Chick-fil-A as part of the gathering because, according to Neil, it is easier to answer questions that typically make people uncomfortable if asked over a meal.
Title IX is a crucial federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any education program and ensures equal opportunities and protections against discrimination for all students, regardless of gender. On campus, Title IX Coordinator Gregory Kuester, J.D., oversees compliance with all aspects of the Title IX Sexual Harassment Discrimination Policy.
Students and staff can report concerns to him at his office in McGowan Student Center 221. Additional support is provided by Deputy Title IX Coordinators Kristin Hurley (for employees), John D. Love, Ph.D., and Justine Miller (for athletics).
During the event, students were divided by gender, with boys on one side of the room and girls on the other. Each group wrote questions for the opposite gender, focusing on Title IX-related topics.
The questions were then answered by the respective groups. A male student asked if Kuester is always available for conversations. Smith responded, "Every time I email him, he answers fast."
Supporting peers was another key topic. A male student asked how he could best support female friends who feel uncomfortable due to inappropriate sexual remarks from other male peers. The girls emphasized the importance of calling out inappropriate behavior and holding friends accountable.
One girl advised, "Call out your friend when he says something rude to a woman." Another added, "You need to hold your friends accountable because you don’t want your friends acting like that."
A general question was asked, "Do you feel safe and comfortable on campus?" A boy mentioned feeling comfortable, while a girl highlighted dark spots on campus. Another boy countered that a lighting bill had been passed to improve campus safety.
A girl asked, "How can I stay safe on dating apps?" Answers included meeting in public places, sharing your location with someone, and not giving out personal information like home addresses.
Addressing unhealthy relationships was another significant topic. The question was asked, "If you know someone is in a relationship that negatively affects them, how would you address that?" A girl suggested, "I would start by asking them what they think of the relationship to get them talking about how they think it’s going. For when you ask them questions, you can get them to realize things without actually laying it out for them."
A male student asked, "What is the general perception of how well Title IX handles issues from the female perspective?" Girls shared positive experiences, noting quick responses and proactive measures from the Title IX office. One girl said, "My experience as an RA is fast; within the next day, I’m getting emails in response to anything I had a problem with." Another girl added, "As soon as you say something, they’re moving."
The "Chicken for Change" event successfully educated students about Title IX and encouraged open discussions about gender-based issues and campus safety. It highlighted the university's commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all students. For any concerns related to discrimination or harassment, students are encouraged to contact the Title IX Coordinators or Residence Life.
Comments