An open letter to CU and the Boulder community
The Office of Victim Assistance is re-posting a letter CU’s Center for Multicultural Affairs Department sent out to our community yesterday.
An open letter to CU and the Boulder community:
In the past few months we, at the Center for Multicultural Affairs, have witnessed several situations unfold and have been concerned about the local reports this spring of false allegations involving men of color as the perpetrators and most notably, around the recent Trayvon Martin tragedy in Florida.
As a community, we stand against these incidences that have profiled people of color and targeted men, in particular, as scapegoats in these unjust situations. Irrefutably, we recognize that one’s overall sense of personal safety becomes compromised and the value of community violated by those individuals who allow ignorance and fear to ignite their unjust actions. The tenets of freedom, justice, access and equity are deeply imbedded in our society and when these are violated, everyone is impacted.
As a department, we stand for every student’s undeniable right to fully express their identity and be safe and respected in their community. Our individual right to participate and experience life at CU, to the highest degree, is key to being successful here and must not be denied to anyone.
We invite everyone to take a stand with us by making a personal investment to deeply examine our own hidden attitudes and biases and to look at ways to reduce fear and ignorance in our daily interactions with each other. We also encourage everyone to take a critical look at how we, individually, participate in our community and to recognize what role and responsibility we each have to enact change.
CMA is committed to aiding every student in their process, especially those who have been affected by these recent incidences. Whether you, or someone close to you, have been impacted by these recent events, or you are simply looking at ways to engage in discussions on race and ethnicity and further your diversity awareness skills, we would like to offer our services and support in helping all students, faculty and staff build a more inclusive campus. Additionally, CMA can also help connect you to other departments and resources on campus that can also be of support and advocacy to you. We encourage you to visit us at any time!
To further the discussion of a very important topic, we invite you to two upcoming events. The first is a panel and discussion hosted by several CU students this Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at 5:00p.m. at Hellems 201 entitled, Hoodie to Hijab: The Reality of Hate Crimes. The second event is being hosted by CU’s Freshmen Council called A Day Without Hate on April 27, 2012 from 11:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. at Norlin Quad where a number of booths and resources will be available for everyone to learn more about anti-discrimination, non-violence and ally-ship.
In moving forward, there are a number of helpful resources that are available for furthering dialogues on race, finding opportunities for growth, and expanding skills and competencies. We hope that, through shared knowledge, responsibility and commitment, we each can contribute to building a stronger and more vibrant community that is respectful of individual differences, experiences and viewpoints.
Center for Multicultural Affairs
103 UCB, Center for Community, Suite N320, Boulder, CO 80309-0103
Phone 303-492-5667, Fax 303-735-0321 Website: www.colorado.edu/studentaffairs/cma
Anti-bias resources:
“The Damaging Effects of False Criminal Allegations”, http://www.coloradodaily.com/our-take/ci_19847898?
“White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” www.nymbp.org/reference/WhitePrivilege.pdf
“Racial Microaggressions in Everyday Life” ccw.nyjerusalemdialogue.org/webinars/Race_Micro_A.pdf
Anti-Bias Bibliography http://www.understandingprejudice.org/readroom/teachbib.htm
“Domestic Violence Counts”: Survey results from NNEDV
Each year in mid-September, the National Network to End Domestic Violence conducts a 24-hour survey of local domestic violence programs. This census, known as “Domestic Violence Counts” was performed on September 15, 2011 with 40 of Colorado’s domestic violence programs participating. In the survey, Colorado programs reported serving a total of 1,317 victims during that 24-hour period with 622 of them taking refuge in emergency shelters or transitional housing. In addition to shelter, 695 adults and children received non-residential assistance and services in Colorado, including individual counseling, legal advocacy, and children’s support groups. Take a look at Colorado’s data or see the full National Domestic Violence Counts 2011 report.
Office of Victim Assistance Accepted as a Pilot Site for the Transgender Sexual Assault Survivors Project
The Office of Victim Assistance, in partnership with the GLBTQ Resource Center and MESA (Moving to End Sexual Assault), is one of four recipients selected in the country to receive training by FORGE staff. FORGE is a progressive organization whose mission is to support, educate, and advocate for the rights and lives of transgender individuals and SOFFA’s (significant others, friends, family and allies). The goal of receiving technical assistance is; to develop sexual assault provider/transgender community coalitions on campus and within the Boulder/Denver community, and to identify and address barriers keeping transgender sexual assault survivors from accessing services. Our work in OVA is to continue exploring ways of being allies and advocates, and to strive towards providing accessible and meaningful services to transgender survivors of sexual assault.
FORGE website: http://forge-forward.org
Please contact OVA at 303-492-8855 or assist@colorado.edu for more information and/or feedback.
NCAVP releases National Report on anti-LGBTQ Hate Violence
The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) released the national report on anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) violence.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 12, 2011
Media Contact: Roberta Sklar 917.704.6358
REPORT ON HATE VIOLENCE AGAINST LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER AND HIV-AFFECTED COMMUNITIES RELEASED TODAY:
Report shows second highest murder rate ever recorded. Transgender people and people of color are most targeted communities for severe hate violence.
To download the full Report please visit NCAVP online
For the rest of this press release please click here
Stalking Awareness
Watch a few short and different videos on You Tube about Stalking.
The first video is an interview with Jessica Ladd-Webert, LPC, on the difference between stalking and harassment and how to use CU’s Office of Victim Assistance to help you. This video was created by Community Health, a division of Wardenburg.
This second video is a some what humorous, yet realistic video on stalking and facebook.
Last this third video is a news cast from CBS interviewing an expert on stalking who is talking about what to do if you are experience stalking.
For more information on stalking visit:
http://cuvictimassistance.com/issues/stalking/
National Stalking Center http://www.ncvc.org/src/Main.aspx
Gender Violence Prevention Plan
In the spring of 2009 the Gender Violence Prevention Plan was developed by the Sexual Assault/Sexual Harassment committee on campus. The plan includes key recommendations and initiatives for the entire campus and uses a holistic, systematic, and comprehensive approach for preventing gender violence.
Click here to view the Gender Violence Prevention Plan
Gender Justice Commission
Do you want to learn more about gender violence? Are you an activist? The Gender Justice Commission is looking for students, staff and faculty to join in discussing the issue and educating the CU community. For an application, contact Davian Gagne email: davian.gagne@colorado.edu or 303.492.5951.
