The following email was sent to the Barnard community on March 29, 2018.


Dear Members of the Barnard Community,

Since 2001, April has been nationally recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). As you know, we find ourselves in the midst of a year when conversations—both in the U.S. and across the globe—are focused on how we acknowledge and respond to sexual, gender-based, and intimate-partner violence and harassment. In this spirit, we encourage our campus community to come together this month to discuss these difficult and important topics, to reaffirm our support of all survivors, and to explore new ways of creating a safer and more caring society that does not tolerate violence of any kind.

Throughout April, a number of SAAM events will be held on campus, and we hope you will participate.

SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH EVENTS

Being Barnard, the campus sexual violence prevention program, will be creating a vision wall in the Altschul Tunnel Gallery from Monday, April 2—Friday, April 13. The vision wall prompt asks us to "Envision a world without sexual violence. What's different?" Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to contribute to the wall throughout the duration of the event. Being Barnard and the Title IX Office will also present a panel discussion on Monday, April 9 entitled, "#MeToo: Supporting Survivors in the Midst of a Cultural Shift." In addition, human sexuality educator and activist Ericka Hart will speak on Thursday, April 26.

The annual Clery Lecture will take place on Monday, April 16; Take Back the Night will host their rally and speak out on Thursday, April 5; and Denim Day will be observed on Wednesday, April 25. Also, at weekly tabling events in The Diana Center, staff from Being Barnard, Title IX, Sexual Violence Response, Furman Counseling Center, and Well Woman will be on hand to provide information on the resources and support systems available to the Barnard Community. More information about these events can be found on Being Barnard's event calendar.

CLIMATE SURVEY FOR STUDENTS | DISCRIMINATION & HARASSMENT

Barnard is dedicated to being a community free of discrimination and harassment. In order to measure and respond to the current campus climate, particularly with respect to sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking, it is important that we understand the experiences of our students.

As such, all currently enrolled Barnard students will be invited to participate in the Spring 2018 Climate Survey. This survey is intended to gather information about students' perception of and experience with Barnard's Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment, sexual assault and harassment within the College community, and general perceptions of campus climate for students. Later this month, each student will receive a unique link to complete the online survey.

Sexual violence is an issue that requires our ongoing attention. We hope that you will join us this April and throughout the year as we continue to engage in this important and necessary work.

Sincerely,

Sian Leah Beilock
President

Linda Bell
Provost and Dean of the Faculty

Avis Hinkson
Dean of the College