During their meeting on Oct. 28, the Senate of the Associated Students of the University of Nevada (ASUN) passed a resolution in support of NevadaCARES, a confidential advocacy center on campus serving victims of sexual assault, relationship violence and stalking. The organization also does prevention work for the same issues.
College of Liberal Arts Senator Mikayla Williams, the senate’s liaison to NevadaCARES, brought the resolution forward. The senate passed it in the context of recent reports from Williams that the University of Nevada, Reno’s (UNR) administration is seeking to shut down NevadaCARES.
Six people voiced support for the resolution and NevadaCARES during public comment, including students who work with the organization.
The commenters pointed out that UNR does not recognize NevadaCARES as an official student service. They further said confidential advocacy can help sexual assault victims navigate their experience without feeling the pressure of reporting.
Christina Hall, director of UNLV’s Jean Nidetch Care Center, which provides similar services to NevadaCARES, sent in a written comment. She said their advocacy on UNLV’s campus had been very successful. Hall said their program was institutionalized at UNLV, and urged the senate to support similar institutionalization of confidential advocacy at UNR.
The senate’s resolution, which was fast-tracked to a second hearing and passed unanimously, supports NevadaCARES’ advocacy structure and urges UNR to recognize them as a confidential advocacy center. It also “condemns any attempt by or from University administration to eliminate NevadaCARES as a resource for victims.”
Senator Williams told the senate she had been raped at UNR and had not heard back from campus police after reporting it. She said if she had known NevadaCARES existed, she would have gone to them for support, and that the organization deserves to be on campus as much as other wellness resources do.
The senate also heard a presentation from Emma Silveyra, a student and member of the breast cancer awareness organization Know Your Lemons. Silveyra told the senate breast cancer can occur in anyone at any time, not just in older women. She said it is extremely important to catch the cancer in its early stages, demonstrated how to properly perform a self-exam for breast cancer and encouraged students to check themselves regularly.
