Liberty University lights Freedom Tower in teal for Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Each April is a timely reminder to remain aware of the safety of oneself and others during the nationally recognized Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). On Monday night, as it has done in previous years, Liberty University illuminated its Freedom Tower in teal (the color designated for sexual assault awareness) as a symbol of the university’s commitment to keeping its community safe.

The Office of Equity and Compliance (OEC), which initiated the tower lighting and other events and resources to raise awareness this month, is responsible for administering compliance with the university’s Sexual Misconduct/Title IX Policy, the Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Policy, and the Jeanne Clery Act, which includes the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The office has provided statistics and resources on preventing and reporting sexual assault to students and staff. Resources are also available on the OEC’s Sexual Assault Awareness webpage.

“Teal was the color chosen for SAAM for its symbolism of trust, devotion, and healing,” said Ashley Reich, Liberty’s Senior Vice President for Equity and Compliance. “It is important to recognize that it is impossible to prevent something that no one is aware of. To create this awareness, survivors and advocates alike wear teal to honor those who have fallen victim to sexual assault and to bring awareness to those around them.”

The OEC is holding a “What Were You Wearing?” exhibit to bring awareness to victim blaming and how deeply it is rooted in society, making the statement that “it doesn’t matter what you wear, sexual assault can happen to anyone at any time.” Students are invited to share stories anonymously to be portrayed during the exhibit on April 24-25 at the OEC office in DeMoss Hall. Along with the exhibit, the office will have a table in Montview Student Union to talk with students about SAAM and share the supportive measures the OEC offers students.

The ultimate purpose of the OEC is to provide a “safe, supportive, and neutral” place for students to report incidents. The office wants students to champion the OEC and its mission, alerting the proper authorities when they see and/or hear of reportable offenses. This is the message of the “Speak Up” campaign, which encourages students to do exactly that — speak up when they experience or witness behavior or misconduct that potentially violates Title IX policies.

“Students can assist us by being ambassadors for Title IX,” Reich said. “If they hear of something that needs to be reported, they can encourage their friends that this is a safe space for them. We really want the students to be the champions of that.”

Liberty University has spent over $10 million in the last two years on significant advancements that ensure the safety and well-being of students, faculty, and staff, and is committed to spending an additional $2 million on new initiatives related to campus safety and security. (Read more on these wide-ranging enhancements and how the OEC plays a vital role in student success.)

Last spring, the OEC moved to its current location in DeMoss Hall 1232, an area of main campus readily accessible to students. The office was constructed in a way that allowed for a safe reporting environment where students and staff can feel comfortable engaging with the trained staff.

With the overall growth and recent advancements made by Liberty and the OEC, Reich said she feels “very positive and hopeful for the future.”

“I have such a passion to see this project through,” she said. “This legacy needs to be built beyond me.”

To learn more about the Office of Equity and Compliance, visit Liberty.edu/Title-IX.