A group of SIU students met with representatives from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights on Wednesday to discuss their experiences with the university’s response to sexual harassment and assault.

The university is being investigated for possible failure to respond equitably and promptly to cases of alleged sexual violence.

“I came because this is an important issue,” said Shamir Brathwaite, a junior from Plainfield studying philosophy. “As citizens, we are all in some way a part of this conversation, because we’ve either had it happen to us or know someone who’s had it happen to them.”

Brathwaite said the breakout sessions were a good way to promote dialogue on the issue of sexual violence. 

The purpose of the sessions was to aid the organization in understanding the climate of the university with respect to sexual violence, how SIU responds to cases of possible sexual violence and otherwise provide information that could be helpful in the Title IX investigation of SIU, according to a statement from the Office of Civil Rights.

University administrators were not allowed to attend the sessions, and a Daily Egyptian reporter was not allowed to ask questions to OCR officials. 

Further sessions are scheduled for Thursday in the Wabash/Vermillion Conference Rooms of the Student Center.

William David Higgs can be reached at [email protected] or 618-536-3325.