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NMSU to host Southwest Conference on Campus Sexual Violence in November

New Mexico State University will host the Southwest Conference on Campus Sexual Violence from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 2 at the Dona Ana Community College East Mesa campus, 2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd

The one-day conference costs $60 with lunch included. Registration is available online at https://sccsv.nmsu.edu or by calling the Office of Institutional Equity at 575-646-3635

This conference was created when the Office of Institutional Equity, the Dean of Students Office and University Police at NMSU recognized the need to adopt a trauma informed approach when working with students, faculty and staff, said Lauri Millot, NMSU Office of Institutional Equity executive director. 

“We also know that it is imperative that our offices work together when responding to reported sexual harassment, sexual misconduct and sexual violence so that student and staff needs are fully met. Since there are limited training opportunities for those in our professions, we wanted to reach out and create a venue for not only our campus, but also other New Mexico campuses,” said Millot, who is also NMSU’s Title IX Coordinator and Section 504 Coordinator. 

The conference will prepare campus leaders to assist individuals who have been traumatically impacted by sexual assault, domestic violence or other disturbing events. 

The topics will focus on issues such as sexual harassment, dating violence, stalking, sexual assault, federal training recommendations on Title IX, “It’s on Us” and bystander intervention and effects of sexual assault trauma and what role it plays in interviews and investigations. 

“We are especially pleased that NMSU’s student government is collaborating and taking a leadership role in not only the conference, but more importantly in implementing the ‘It’s on Us’ campaign to prevent sexual assault and sexual violence on campus,” Millot said. 

The first session will include information on trauma informed response, which introduces the basic concepts of neurobiology of trauma so victims can be understood to improve the outcomes of cases of sexual assault, domestic violence or any traumatic event. 

The second session will include the trauma informed interview and discussion. Justin Boardman, a 15-year veteran and detective with the West Valley City Police Department in Utah and member of the Salt Lake County sexual assault response team, will give an interactive presentation on how to conduct interviews with trauma informed victims. Boardman co-wrote a trauma informed victim protocol for adult victims of sexual assault. 

The third session will focus on the new era of Title IX and institutional collaboration. Michael Jasek, NMSU dean of students, Stephen Lopez, NMSU chief of police, and Millot will give an interactive presentation and discuss the new U.S. Department of Education guidance documents.

“After the momentous rescission by Secretary DeVos on Sept. 22, 2017, of the 2011 and 2014 ‘Dear Colleague’ letters from the Obama era, it made perfect sense to expand the amount of time allocated to Title IX since the new procedures and tonality have dramatically changed how colleges and universities are expected to respond to reported incidences of sexual harassment, sexual misconduct and sexual violence,” she said. 

The conference will conclude with round table discussions on student affairs, institutional equity and the Clery Act and annual security report. 

Information from NMSU