PublicSource spoke with university officials across the Pittsburgh region who are involved in Title IX compliance. (Photos by Lilly Kubit/PublicSource. Photo illustration by Natasha Vicens/PublicSource)
Finding advisers for students who report to Title IX is one of several challenges that university officials in the Pittsburgh region shared with PublicSource.
by and
Content warning: This story contains references to sexual violence.
Pittsburgh universities have made significant investments to prevent and investigate sexual violence on their campuses, but the experiences of survivors reveal gaps and flaws in those efforts.
More than half of sexual assaults among college students occur in the fall. Resources, survivor stories and investigation into what’s being done to protect those at risk in the Pittsburgh area. Explore the series.
How do university administrators respond?
PublicSource spoke with university officials across the Pittsburgh region who are involved in Title IX compliance. Out of nine Pittsburgh-area institutions, seven made their administrators available. Carnegie Mellon and Duquesne universities provided statements.
Several administrators spoke candidly about the challenges they’ve encountered, from finding advisers for students who report to ensuring international students understand their protections under the federal civil rights law. The officials also detailed the work their institutions have undertaken to address sexual violence.
- University of Pittsburgh
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Duquesne University
- Carlow University
- Chatham University
- Point Park University
- Robert Morris University
- La Roche University
- Community College of Allegheny County
University of Pittsburgh
Katie Pope, the associate vice chancellor for civil rights and Title IX at Pitt, identified communication as one of the top challenges for the office she leads. She said the university has worked over the years on a “multi-layered” communications plan.
It’s important, she said, that when someone is coming to the Title IX office after a potential trauma, they get immediate help, necessary accommodations and clear expectations for the process.
Read entire story here