Charles F. Zukoski
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Monique S. Allard
Interim Vice President, Student Affairs
Tracy Poon Tambascia
President, Academic Senate; Professor, Rossier School of Education
Sarah Van Orman
Chief Health Officer, USC Student Health
Division Chief for College Health, Keck School of Medicine of USC
This message contains reference to the subject of sexual assault. Recipients may opt to not read this material, or to choose a time and space when they feel supported and safe to absorb its content. To talk to a confidential Advocate for survivors, students can send a secure message to Student Health via MySHR to ask for an Advocate, or call 213-740-9355, any time, 24/7.
As we begin Sexual Assault Awareness Month (#usc_saam), we are writing to invite you to a public discussion framed around the concept of “sexual citizens.” The idea comes out of the most comprehensive study to date of sexual assault on campus conducted by the Sexual Health Initiative to Foster Transformation (SHIFT) at Columbia University. Columbia professors and authors of the groundbreaking book, “Sexual Citizens: Sex, Power and Assault on Campus,” Jennifer S. Hirsch and Shamus Khan will be on hand to share powerful insights from their work.
The authors’ approach is steeped in empathy, seeking to explain the social roots of sexual assault, and their book offers a roadmap for how to address these events on university campuses. “Sexual Citizens” is available through the USC Bookstores (the first 50 registered attendees will receive a complimentary copy, while supplies last) and through the USC Libraries. We urge you to read it.Throughout April, we will demonstrate our heartfelt commitment to empower survivors with activities that support their resilience, hope, and healing, and we encourage our community to learn more about this topic to increase awareness, prevention, and knowledge.
This year, many of you have been involved in the serious and thoughtful conversations about the issue of sexual assault and its impact on students. From the USC Campus Task Force Report, which included research collected from surveys of our own students’ experiences, to the discussions with our Working Group on IFC Culture, Prevention, and Accountability, we have taken important steps toward reducing harm to our students and continue to move toward eliminating their impact on campus.
Our work toward a diverse, inclusive and equitable educational experience is an ongoing and evolutionary process, and you play an important part in that progress. We look forward to continuing this work together and we hope to see you on April 28 for this important event.
Planning Committee
Tracy Poon Tambascia, President, Academic Senate (2021-2022)
Daniel Pecchenino, President, Academic Senate (2022-2023)
Christopher Manning, IFC Working Group co-chair, Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer
Monique Allard, IFC Working Group co-chair, Interim Vice President of Student Affairs
Sarah Van Orman, Chief Health Officer, Division Chief for College Health
Kedra Ishop, Vice President for Enrollment Management
Beth Shuster, Chief of Staff, Office of the Provost
Ex-officio: Minne Ho, USC Student Health Communications
Invitation Committee
The Invitation Committee for this event encourages attendance and engagement of this activity.
Felicia Washington, Senior Vice President for Human Resources
David Wright, Senior Vice President for Administration
Catherine Spear, Vice President and Title IX Coordinator, Office for Equity, Equal Opportunity, and Title IX
Andrew McConnell Stott, Vice Provost for Academic Programs and Dean of the Graduate School
Catherine Quinlan, Dean, USC Libraries
Violina Rindova, Vice Dean of DEI, USC Marshall School of Business
Sarah Townsend, Assistant Vice Dean of DEI, USC Marshall School of Business
Student Debriefing Committee
Brenda Ingram, Director, Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention, USC Student Health
Deborah Schleicher, Assistant Director, Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention, USC Student Health
Emily Sandoval, Associate Vice Provost, USC Student Affairs
Naddia Palacios, Assistant Vice Provost, Student Equity and Inclusion Programs, USC Student Affairs
