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Listening to Our Students
Interpersonal Violence Response Coordinator Bat’sé Smart meets
with students during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS
Clemson University has shown its commitment to
addressing student concerns on issues of sexual and
interpersonal violence. Since 2021, Student Affairs has
led the way by investing in a pair of interpersonal violence
response (IVR) coordinators to shepherd this important
work. Lauren Parker and Bat’sé Smart see students
primarily through self-referrals, word of mouth or via the
CARE Network, and are liaisons to support resources
such as Counseling and Psychological Services, Clemson
University Police Department, the Title IX Office and
Office of Community and Ethical Standards.
In Fall 2022, Student Affairs introduced a new,
designated space for survivors of interpersonal
and sexual violence known as the “Oak Room”—
which serves as an area to decompress, study
or engage in self-care activities.
TIGERS SPEAK SURVEY
Clemson celebrated 50 years of Title IX in 2022,
and one of the most impactful ways the campus
community came together occurred in November with
the launch of the University’s first comprehensive
interpersonal violence campus climate survey, Tigers
Speak. The survey was developed by Inclusion and
Equity with collaborative input from Student Affairs,
Academic Affairs, Public Safety and the Clemson
Students for Survivors Coalition.
With data collected over a period of three weeks,
the survey was designed to help University
administrators understand the experiences of
students regarding gender-based discrimination,
harassment and interpersonal violence. The results
will be used to leverage Clemson’s strengths and build
on areas of opportunity, which supports the No. 1
student experience.
We’re all strands in a safety net for students. When
someone comes to us after experiencing something
traumatic, it affects many different areas and addressing
those needs as they come in is critically important. —IVR
Coordinator Lauren Parker
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