Stuart to Host Title IX Panel at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, is hosting a Title IX Panel at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville to encourage college students and community members to come together to discuss Title IX and sexual assault on college campuses.  The event will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 17 from 7  to 8 p.m. at the SIUe Morris University Center in the International Room. Stuart is hosting this event in partnership with state Sen. Rachelle Crowe, the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, the Title IX Coordinator at SIUe, and Call for Help.

“It’s important to not only talk about the issue of sexual assault and changes to Title IX with students, but to also open it up to the community to engage in a broader discussion of these very relevant, important issues,” said Stuart. “Title IX extends beyond the campus, so it is vital to open this event to be a community conversation.”

Title IX is the law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in the United States.  On college campuses, Title IX offices and coordinators often deal with a multitude of issues, including gender equality for sports teams, cases of sexual harassment, and investigating cases of sexual assault.  College campuses have been reported to have high rates of sexual harassment and sexual violence.  As United States Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has discussed changes to Title IX, Stuart is collaborating with SIUe to take a proactive approach to educating students and engaging the community in a conversation on sexual assault, and hosting a Title IX Panel for students and community members to ask questions.

“As students begin a new year at SIUe, I wanted to take this opportunity to educate both students and the community on the details of how Title IX affects life on college campuses, and how our community can work together to address the issue of sexual assault on campus,” continued Stuart. “There have been proposed federal changes that can change the nature of Title IX regulation and enforcement, so we will be looking at those factors during this conversation as well.”