A Capitol Hill roundtable hosted by the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) convened a group of higher ed administrators, policymakers and change agents to give people of color a seat at the table in the current public debate about sexual assault and harassment.
During the “Title IX: Moving #MeToo from Agitation to Legislation” conversation, participants spoke about the cultural and economic impact of Black institutions, the Cleary Act and legislative and institutional policies that would ensure that historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and schools that over time have become predominantly Black institutions (PBIs), can effectively support sexual-assault survivors and resolve instances of sexual misconduct on campuses.
While issues of sexual discrimination and misconduct are not exclusive to these schools, the solution must include them, Rep. Alma S. Adams, D-N.C., said in opening remarks. “A conversation without our input is not a conversation at all. Time’s up for our voices not to be heard.”
Serving as moderator, Dr. Julianne Malveaux – an economist, commentator and president emerita of Bennett College – began the discussion by acknowledging that the conversation around #MeToo must not ignore the context of patriarchy found in today’s society. But even so, sexual assault happens to men, too, she emphasized.
“This is a human problem,” said Zeke Thomas, a sexual violence-awareness activist. Thomas shared that people were not ready to talk about his story when he revealed that he had been sexually assaulted at the ages of 12 and 27, signifying that men survivors often are left out of the conversation.
“We have to redefine what love is,” he said about ending rape culture and sexual violence.
Malveaux, NAFEO president Lezli Baskerville and other roundtable participants added that the culture of unity and belonging at HBCUs can make it hard for students to report experiences of sexual misconduct at their schools.
