This article contains discussions of sexual assault.
Wednesday, Sept. 30, the College of William and Mary’s Interfraternity Council passed a resolution regarding campus sexual violence prevention.
The IFC resolution came weeks after a former Cornell University student, identified as Jane Doe in court filings, alleged in a lawsuit that she was drugged and raped by seven men at a Chi Phi fraternity house. The lawsuit has sparked outrage and a national conversation about sexual assault on college campuses.
The IFC resolution affirmed support for survivors of sexual assault and the right for students to exist at the College without fear of sexual violence.
“The Interfraternity Council and its member organizations reaffirm that sexual violence, harassment, coercion, retaliation, and abuse are completely incompatible with the values and responsibilities of our organizations,” the resolution stated.
The IFC also affirmed its right to evaluate and improve sexual violence prevention practices for fraternities on campus. The resolution said all fraternity chapters on campus will now be required to incorporate sexual violence education into their new member education plans every semester.
Chapter presidents, risk managers, new member educators and social chairs must now complete mandatory annual sexual violence prevention training. Fraternity chapters will also be required to complete an annual bystander intervention training and regularly evaluate their practices for conditions that could increase the risk of sexual violence or discourage intervention.
“The reputation of an organization shall never take priority over the safety, autonomy, and dignity of another person,” the resolution read.
