Know-Your-IX

The black-and-white checkerboard floors, exposed brick walls, red leather booths, and shining red lights displaying “MEL’S.” The dartboard, wooden chairs, and the cramped and dark interior of 1020. The long bar counter, antique light fixtures, and abstract paintings of Arts and Crafts Beer Parlor. These are the staple campus bars for many Columbia students today—places to de-stress, mingle, and enjoy drinks and classic bar food.

As Joe Biden secures the 2020 election, the shift in power to the Democratic Party signals forthcoming change to higher education policy. Among other initiatives, Biden’s current higher education platform promises to reinstate broader Title IX protections and support lower-income students’ attendance of public four-year programs and community colleges.

On Aug. 14, Columbia revised its sexual misconduct policies in response to a number of changes to Title IX federal regulations that drastically rolled back protections for students. Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act of 1972 is a federal law that prohibits sexual discrimination—including sexual harassment and sexual violence—in federally-funded educational institutions.

Alicia Lawrence, deputy dean of Barnard who was beloved for her support for students of color as one of the few Black administrators on Barnard’s campus, died Thursday evening from a pre-existing health condition unrelated to COVID-19, according to an email from Barnard President Sian Beilock. She was 36 years old.

Research conducted by the Sexual Health Initiative to Foster Transformation found that nearly one in four Columbia and Barnard students have experienced sexual assault. Students at Columbia may have heard this statistic, or similar ones, several times since the New Student Orientation Program. Students are also taught different ways to intervene if someone seems to be in danger, as well as which resources are confidential through the Sexual Health Initiative Program. However, there seems to be little discussion about the rights that survivors have, and should one of us be that one in four, there seems to be too much misinformation regarding nonconfidential resources on campus. I am here to set the record straight.

In October 2019, No Red Tape Columbia sat down with Marjory Fisher, the Title IX coordinator, and Kelly Joyce, the interim associate vice president of Student Conduct and Community Standards, to clarify Columbia’s definition of affirmative consent. The gender-based misconduct policy currently states that consent may be given through “words or actions.” While Columbia continues to communicate to the student body that an enthusiastic verbal “yes” constitutes consent, there is little indication as to what “actions” Columbia considers potential indicators of affirmative consent. Hugs? Kisses? Smiles?