By Evan Price | Guest Writer
The University of Lynchburg aims to combat on-campus harassment by providing prevention training for students, as well as offering robust support for victims. Harassment can take many forms, including racial or sexual.
The university defines harassment as “unwanted behavior that violates someone’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment.” The university tracks harassment incidents through Title IX, which Liz Frost, the Title IX coordinator, heads.
Frost disclosed that all reported incidents are confidential according to federal and state laws. Information about an incident can only be released with the victim’s written permission. Information can also be released to the public if the incident is reported to a criminal record, which is required by law under the Clery Act, provided the identity of the victim is kept anonymous.
The university also maintains a daily crime log to track crimes on campus, including harassment incidents, which is available for anyone to view. The log dates back to July 2021 and is updated daily, according to campus security.
Since the crime log began, there have been around 50 reported incidents of harassment, including one earlier this month where students reported being harassed by other students in Shackelford Hall.
For the past nine years, the university has partnered with Grand River Solutions to provide students with free harassment prevention modules. The university asks that students complete these modules at the beginning of each academic year.
Dr. Robert Canida, the school’s Chief Inclusive Excellence Officer, revealed that in addition to these modules, other trainings are in place to prevent harassment on campus.
“It is noteworthy to know that NCAA has its own requirements for all athletes and athletic personnel to complete a particular set of sexual harassment and Title IX training requirements, which requires the President and the Title IX Coordinator of the institution to sign off on,” Canida said.
Through their partnership with Grand River Solutions, the university can also track the number of modules completed by students.
“For the current academic year (2024-2025), 540 students completed the module,” Canida said.
2,135 students are currently enrolled at the university, meaning one in four students have completed the modules this year.
The university also offers support for victims of harassment through its counseling services. Dr. Courtney Zongrone, the Clinical Director of Counseling Services for the university, says her office provides many supportive services for victims.
“Sometimes students may not be aware of how far the impact is or the experience that experience of harassment is having on them, and so that’s just kind of a one time, come on in whenever you want, no pressure,” Zongrone noted.
Zongrone also shared that the counseling services office offers individual counseling and walk-in crisis support. In-person counseling services are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Outside of these hours, students have access to Timely Care, which offers virtual mental health resources.
Zongrone acknowledged that harassment can be a complex subject that affects people in different ways, but she wants students on campus to understand that help is available if they need it.
“We have people out here who are here to support you and to sit with you,” said Zongrone. “The complexity of those emotions are very normal, but just that friendly reminder that you do not need to do that alone.”
Zongrone also wants students to know that counseling sessions are a safe space. Counselors are non-mandated reporters, meaning everything regarding harassment and assault is confidential and will not be reported unless the victim agrees to it.
If you or someone you know is a victim of harassment and would like to report it, you can here at Title IX. Victims of harassment can also access mental health care here.
