Several students gathered at the Joe Crowley Student Union (JCSU) plaza on Thursday, Oct. 8 in protest against how universities handle sexual assault cases. The University of Nevada Reno’s chapter of National Organization of Women (NOW) and the UNR Packtivists organized the protest in response to the Cornell University sexual assault case.
Members of NOW and Packtivists tabled outside of the JCSU prior to the protest, discussing the organizers’ objectives with interested students.
Gabrielle Blunier, the UNR Packtivist club president, said the Packtivists are peer educators for situations related to power-based violence, including sexual assault, stalking and relationship advice.
“We work to educate ourselves before we go out and educate others,” Blunier said.
The Packtivists had a colorful spinning wheel on their table, displaying questions about Title IX such as “Do you know what Title IX is?” or “Has Title IX failed us students?”
They also handed out “we stand with survivors” stickers to students.
Before the protest began, Blunier gave a speech on the grass outside of the JCSU.
“We must not become a nation that is divided. We must become united to serve and protect survivors, and have this reflected in our laws,” Blunier shouted into a megaphone.
Afterwards, Sofia Silveyra Franco, co-president of NOW, expressed her support of sexual assault survivors.
“We are here today to fight back against sexual assault on campuses, and in general, we are here to prove to Jane Doe and all other survivors of sexual assault that they are not alone,” Franco said. “We are here today to show our university on how to prevent and deal with cases like the one in Cornell.”
Emily Holt, NOW founder and co-president, then gave a speech through the megaphone.
“As someone who has recently faced sexual assault and domestic violence on this campus from a student, I cannot begin to tell you how frustrated I am with the incident at Cornell,” Holt said.
Holt said the protestors wanted to show the University, students and the Northern Nevada community that there are people who will stand and fight for sexual assault survivors.
After the speeches, students grabbed poster signs featuring criticisms of Title IX’s ineffectiveness in protecting students from sexual assault provided by the event organizers.
Blunier then led protestors on a march around campus, chanting “Fund Nevada Cares!”
NevadaCARES is a student organization that supports survivors of power-based violence and helps connect students to resources. The organization relies on external grants to operate on campus. The program is also not officially recognized as UNR’s confidential advocacy center.
Blunier said they were calling on the University to secure permanent institutional funding for the program.
“The program does a lot to support students directly and throw prevention events, and these processes require proper funding. Recognizing and funding a resource that so many students have used will keep the program going,” Blunier said.
As the protesters walked throughout campus, many spectators, including student Bruce Wallace, showed their support by clapping and cheering them on. Wallace then spontaneously joined in.
“I think what happened in Cornell is horrible, and what’s terrible is that these types of things have been happening for years and decades in every university,” Wallace said.
Protesters continued chanting “Title IX, lock in!”, “Hey hey! Ho ho! Sexual assault has got to go!”, or “Ho ho! Hey hey! I’m gonna wear that anyway!” as they walked from the JCSU to the Ansari Business Building, and then circled back around to finish off their protest.
