The UI Student Advisory Committee on Sexual Misconduct looks for five new members.

By Anis Shakirah Mohd Muslimin
[email protected]

During a time of transition, a student committee wants to rebuild its membership for the new school year.

The University of Iowa President’s Student Advisory Committee on Sexual Misconduct is seeking five new students to fill vacant seats.

The 14-member committee was formed in 2014 as part of former UI President Sally Mason’s six-point plan to combat sexual assault on campus.

Kira Pasquesi, the vice president of the committee, said the search for new members started after four graduated in May, while one member had to step down because of other commitments.

“Ideal candidates will be ready and eager to listen, learn, and ask critical questions as they engage in difficult conversations with a variety of constituent groups,” she said.

The committee’s goals include advising the UI president, soliciting input from a broad range of students, and monitoring progress on plans and commitments at the UI related to campus sexual misconduct.

The committee hopes to recruit candidates who are “sensitive to the needs of survivors as they navigate issues of sexual misconduct, develop partnerships, and advocate for change,” said committee President Grant Laverty.

In addition, the committee will look for candidates who aim to be current and informed about the landscape of sexual misconduct at the UI and in higher education at large, Pasquesi said.

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in five women and one in 16 men are sexually assaulted while in college.

Additionally, the center found more than 90 percent of sexual-assault victims on college campuses do not report the assault.

The group has collaborated with other student organization in campaigns to raise awareness of sexual assaults.

Together with UI Student Government and the Graduate and Professional Student Government, it launched the “It’s On Us” campaign on campus, as part of a national pledge campaign pushed by the federal government.

“I hope the committee will continue to collaborate with the UI Antiviolence Coalition, student-government leaders, and with national initiatives, such as the ‘It’s On Us’ campaign to prevent sexual misconduct,” said Monique DiCarlo, the UI sexual-misconduct-response coordinator.

Pasquesi said the committee hosted a bystander intervention workshop last week for graduate and professional students in collaboration with GPSG, the Rape Victim Advocacy Program, and the Women’s Resource and Action Center.

“It was in conjunction with RVAP’s ‘My Cup Is Not My Consent’ campaign,” Pasquesi said.

Students who are interested should send in their applications online on the UISG webpage by 5 p.m. Friday.

As for now, the committee’s next aim is to look at the transition to Bruce Harreld’s presidency and to continue focusing on facilitating communication between students and administrators about sexual misconduct, Grant said.

“We will draw from the strengths and perspectives of new committee members to set our charge for the academic year,” Pasquesi said.