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Sexual harassment can happen anywhere: in the residence hall or office, on the bus or street, among strangers and among friends. That’s why The University of Iowa launched a new public awareness campaign in fall 2006.
The centerpiece of the campaign is a web site that contains frequently asked questions, resources for help, and downloadable posters. In addition, vinyl window stickers have been placed in Cambuses and in UI libraries, and placards were mailed to all students living in residence halls.
The posters and other visual elements of the ongoing campaign feature photographs of some of the kinds of places where sexual harassment can occur framed by a dotted line and the words “Sexual harassment can happen anywhere” and “Get the picture.”
The concept was developed to support the University’s comprehensive responses to recommendations in reports by the Campus Climate Committee and a subsequent campus survey on sexual harassment conducted by the Council on the Status of Women.
The campaign is geared primarily toward UI undergraduate students, who were, according to the survey, the least informed about the University’s sexual harassment policies. In addition, the hope is that the campaign will also raise awareness among UI faculty and staff that sexual harassment will not be tolerated, says Steve Parrott, director of University Relations.
“The survey indicated that students, and especially new students, were largely unaware of our policies as well as the places they can go for information or help,” Parrott says. “The web site is an attempt to bring that all together in one place. And the companion communications plan is an attempt to make students, as well as faculty and staff, aware of the web site and, more importantly, the policy.”
Another component of the University’s response to the climate reports and survey is mandatory training about sexual harassment and violence policies. Earlier in 2006, former UI President David Skorton ordered training for all administrators and new students. More information is available at www.uiowa.edu/president/task-forces/sexual_harass_survey/index.html.
