On Wednesday, Sept. 6, students and staff at Shawnee State University received an email about the required Title IX online training that is due by Friday, Oct. 13. Starting this fall semester, students and staff must to go through United Educators to complete the training instead of Get Inclusive, which is the platform that had been used in previous semesters. 

Both segments of the training, entitled “Impressions” and “Lasting Choices: Preventing Sexual Assault,” must be completed by the deadline. However, a special incentive enters students who finished by 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22, into a drawing for one of three Amazon gift cards. 

Title IX is a federal law protecting students and staff from discrimination, harassment, violence and retaliation on the basis of sex and gender. 

“It’s everybody’s responsibility to do the training,” Title IX Coordinator Desiree Isaac said. “Not only to protect yourself so that you can recognize inappropriate behavior, but also so you don’t cross those lines.”

To protect yourself and others, make sure to be aware of what Title IX expects from students and staff. A violation of this law could lead to school suspension, being banned from athletics or even permanently banned from campus and campus activities. 

“Everyone has a duty to make campus safe,” Isaac said. 

Anyone who has experienced sexual harassment or assault, stalking and/or domestic abuse can contact Isaac to speak with her about their experiences with no judgements. You can email her at [email protected] or visit her room at B49 in Massie Hall. You can call 911 if you’re in immediate danger; campus police at (740) 351-3232; or the 24-hour hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Other resources include: attorneys for legal action, free civil legal representation for protection orders, no-contact directives on campus to prevent assaulters from contacting their victims, escort services by the Department of Public Safety, housing reassignment, on-campus work assignment relocation, domestic violence shelters and more resources that cater to specific cases. Isaac can assist members of the SSU community who experience Title IX-related violations in opening a case and finding appropriate resources.