By Sophie Lange, News Editor
The Office of Sexual Respect and Title IX serves to cultivate a community of mutual sexual respect and healthy relationships at Gettysburg College where every individual feels a sense of security and is free from harassment. Title IX is a federal regulation that aims to prevent sex and gender-based discrimination in educational settings that receive funding from the government, and it applies to any educational institution, including K-12 schools.
Title IX Coordinator and Director of Civil Rights Compliance and Education Amanda Blaugher explained, “In a nutshell, the regulations include how institutions must address reported sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking, including providing supportive measures to those who are impacted by sexual harassment and misconduct.”
TItle IX Director Amanda Blaugher addresses the latest changes to the Office of Sexual Respect (Photo courtesy of Amanda Blaugher)
As Title IX Coordinator, Blaugher said that a large part of her position is coordinating supportive measures for students. These include issuing mutual no-contact orders, providing academic and housing accommodations and connecting individuals who have been impacted to resources such as Counseling and Wellness Services, medical care and Adams County’s Sexual Assault or Domestic Violence Service Agencies. Blaugher also assists students who are looking for more information about criminal reporting options by working to connect them with the Adams County Victim Witness Assistance Program or the local detectives with the Gettysburg Police Department.
Beyond providing these supportive measures to those who have been impacted by sexual misconduct, Blaugher also supplies information about the options for resolution at Gettysburg College. These options include informal or formal resolutions and also the choice to not move forward with any resolution.
Blaugher expressed that, “Regardless of whether or not someone requests a resolution, they are still able to access supportive measures for the duration of their time here at Gettysburg.”
In addition to services for those impacted by sexual misconduct, the Office of Sexual Respect and Title IX offers educational and training opportunities for students looking to reduce the risk of sexual violence on campus. Gettysburg College has received the It’s On Us Pennsylvania grant for the past three years and has been awarded it again for the current year. The grant funds much of the educational and awareness programming held by the Office of Sexual Respect and Title IX on campus, such as bringing speakers to campus, tabling around campus and ensuring that resources are available.
In spring of 2024 semester, they are bringing two speakers to campus; hosting a film screening with a panel presentation featuring the writer, director and producer and holding other awareness events such as Take Back the Night and the SAAM Day of Action.
The It’s On Us Pennsylvania Grant also allows them to offer student fellowships. Currently, the It’s On Us Student Fellows are working to bring an It’s On Us Chapter to the college.
Blaugher said the creation of a chapter on campus “is another great way for students who are interested in getting involved with these events, and our It’s On Us events, to participate.”
It’s On Us Fellow Dylann Eck ’26 said the Fellows go through training on One Love, which teaches them about healthy relationships. Additionally, Eck said they held a tabling event in the College Union Building called the “Dos and Donuts of Consent,” where the Office of Sexual Respect and Title IX handed out donuts and cards with information about consent. During this event, the office also provided students with free NightCaps, which are scrunchies that can be used to cover open beverages to decrease the risk of pills and powders being placed into a drink.
In the upcoming semester, Eck said they are “planning two events focused on identifying healthy and unhealthy signs in a relationship.”
Student Worker Abby McMonagle ’26 works mainly at the front desk of the Office of Sexual Respect and Title IX. When she is not sitting at the desk, she goes around campus putting up posters for programs that are held by the office.
McMonagle expressed that she feels the most important part of her job is that she is “the first face someone sees when they walk into the office, [and] regardless of why they are coming into the office, presenting a welcoming environment for anyone is important!”
Signatures on an It’s On Us Banner. (Photo Alexandra Wein/Gettysburg College)
According to McMonagle, the physical office has many resources, such as flyers, that inform individuals about the reporting process, the definition of sexual misconduct, the options for resolution and the rights given to individuals. In the office, some of the information is directed toward individuals identifying as male and/or LGBTQIA+ and the resources specifically available to them.
In addition to resources provided to individuals who wish to reduce the risk of sexual violence on campus, the Office of Sexual Respect and Title IX offers training to each athletic team on campus during the fall semester. These sessions help to meet the requirements that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sets forth for student-athletes. The trainings also allow the Office of Sexual Respect and Title IX to combat rape culture and create a sense of mutual respect at the college. Blaugher also provides training to all new members of Greek organizations on campus, as well as faculty and staff who are not Campus Safety authorities.
On this topic, Blaugher said, “I do try to ensure that every training or workshop that is provided meets the needs of the audience it is for, rather than just providing the same content over and over again. The baseline concepts do remain similar in terms of definitions, how to report, what my office offers, etc., but I want to make sure that any call to action is applicable for the group.”
In terms of the training that the college departments and offices receive, the focus is on their obligations for reporting incidents, the way that students might disclose sexual misconduct and how to support those who have experienced sexual misconduct in the classroom.
Information and data regarding statistics on sexual misconduct at Gettysburg College can also be found on the Office of Sexual Respect and Title IX’s website under “Title IX Data.” The most recent report is not yet published, but Blaugher was able to provide The Gettysburgian with a copy.
The total number of disclosures received by the Office of Sexual Respect and Title IX for the 2022-23 academic year was 68. This number shows a decrease from the previous 2021-22 academic year with 72 disclosures. Additionally, the majority of sexual misconduct occurs in residence halls, which has been true since at least the 2015-16 academic year. Residence halls include College owned dormitories, theme houses and apartments.
When asked what she feels the most important thing for students to know about her office, Blaugher said, “It is important to remember that if they or someone close to them has been impacted by sexual harassment or misconduct, they are able to get access to supportive measures, even if they do not want to move forward with a resolution… It is also important for students to know that my office is available to anyone, I know that sexual harassment and misconduct can impact anyone regardless of their identities.”
This article originally appeared on pages 18 to 19 of the February 2024 edition of The Gettysburgian’s magazine.
