First of all, I want to thank Andrew Crimer for writing an article about Conn’s new Coordinator of Sexual Violence Education and Advocacy. As I said in the article, it is really exciting to have another way to continue a constructive dialogue about sexual assault on campus. Darcie Folsom has taken on her new role with enthusiasm, and is already creating a presence among the student body.
That said, I would like to clarify one of my statements in the article. I was quoted as saying “Although we’d like to work very closely we can’t really do that. We have to keep them separate according to the grant.” I’m concerned that I made it seem like there would be no collaboration between the Women’s Center and Darcie. On the contrary, she will be working with us and other groups on campus, acting, as her title implies, to educate and advocate about issues surrounding sexual violence. For example, one event that we are looking forward to this semester is our annual Take Back the Night. Rather, what I had meant by my statement is that this new position was not intended to fulfill the role of director for the Women’s Center. We at the Women’s Center would like once again to welcome Darcie to campus and applaud her efforts to create what she describes as “a campus with active bystanders who will stand up to sexual violence and not just watch.”
