MSU has released new dates replacing two of the recently announced sexual assault survivor meetings scheduled with university President Dr. Samuel L. Stanley Jr. to not interfere with the upcoming Jewish holidays — Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
The series of meetings were planned in conjunction with the Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct Expert Advisory Committee as an opportunity for survivors to meet with Stanley and voice their ideas for improvements and concerns.
Stanley, and his two advisers on RVSM issues, Dr. Rebecca Campbell and Lt. Andrea Munford, issued a joint statement and apology today acknowledging the oversight.
“In efforts to not interfere with Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur we are changing two of the selected dates for upcoming meetings with survivors of sexual assault,” said Stanley, Campbell and Munford in the statement. “We hope this will be more accommodating for all survivors who would like to attend.”
The new dates are:
- Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019, 6 to 8 p.m. in the New Admissions Room, MSU Union, for the MSU community of sexual assault survivors, including students, faculty and staff.
- Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019, 6 to 8 p.m. at the East Lansing Public Library for survivors who wish to discuss the Nassar case.
- Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019, 6 to 8 p.m. via Zoom. Zoom is an online, web-based meeting for survivors who may not feel comfortable attending a meeting in person. Participants can join the Zoom meeting at: https://msu.zoom.us/j/194029186. The meeting ID: 194 029 186. Or dial in at (646) 876-9923 or (669) 900-6833 using the same ID.
Survivors are welcome to bring a parent or support person with them if they choose. Representatives from the MSU Sexual Assault Program also will be on hand to provide support for survivors or family members. Stanley will attend all the meetings along with Campbell and Munford, and University Ombudsperson Shannon Lynn Burton, a neutral, independent, confidential and informal conflict resolution resource, will be a moderator for the meetings.
Survivors are asked to RSVP if possible. Out of respect for survivors’ privacy and to ensure a safe space for confidentiality, media are not invited to participate in the meetings.
Later this fall, the results of the campus-wide climate survey conducted in Spring 2019 will be available. That feedback, together with the input from these meetings with survivors, will be reviewed by Stanley and the Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct Expert Advisory Workgroup to develop a strategic plan for sustainable culture change at MSU.