College campuses across the country are talking about it. East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania joined the conversation about sexual assault on college campuses with a panel discussion, which was held on Wednesday, April 8 at 6 p.m. in Beers Lecture Hall.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want our students to know they can talk about it \u2013 they are not alone,\u201d Doreen Tobin, D.Ed., vice president for student affairs, said. \u201cThis open forum is one way that we are working on strengthening our communication to enhance student safety and well-being. ESU is committed to providing the safest campus possible for students and members of the university community.\u201d<\/p>\n
The discussion, which was moderated by Nancy Weaver, Ph.D., and Patricia Kashner, assistants to the vice president for student affairs, introduced five diverse panelists from campus and the community. Carrie Maloney, Ph.D., assistant professor of sociology, social work & criminal justice and coordinator of the criminal justice program, wants to educate students on the legal process. \u201cOne thing that has resonated in my classes is how sexual assault is handled on college campuses,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s important for the university to address these concerns and educate students on the legal process in order to keep them informed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Like Maloney, Efia King, a senior majoring in communication studies and sociology from Philadelphia, Pa., believes students should be educated on sexual assault.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile discussing the topic isn\u2019t always easy, it is necessary \u2013 sexual assault is an issue that is prevalent on college campuses, and students need to be able to talk about it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Additional panelists included Deborah Meade, director of programs at Women\u2019s Resources of Monroe County, Donna Leitner, Ph.D., psychologist at the university\u2019s counseling and psychological services, and Matthew Simmons, resident director and coordinator of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and ally (LGBTQ) center at ESU.<\/p>\n