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Students Protest SIU Trustees Meeting

meeting
Jennifer Fuller/WSIU
Students protest at SIU's Board of Trustees meeting

Activists showed their concern over what they perceive is a safety issue on campus, as SIU leaders gathered for December's Board of Trustees meeting.
SIU Students and members of the "Consent Party" walked through SIU's campus today in support of sexual assault awareness.

The Consent Party was started in July in response to a gang rape that occurred just outside Carbondale city limits. The organization aims to show rape survivors that they are not alone.

Consent Party Spokesperson Amanda Braden says starting a conversation speaking out against sexual abuse and rape is the first step to help end it.
 
"You know what we can start a dialogue about rape culture, consent, sex negativity and sex positivity to maybe deconstruct some of the things in our culture that keep us in this perpetual cycle of rape and abuse."

The group started a letter-writing campaign on behalf of SIU freshman Robyn Del Campo. Del Campo was sexually assaulted in Mae Smith Hall in August and felt the Office of Diversity and Equity mishandled her case.

SIUC spokesperson Rae Goldsmith says the university is doing all it can.

"We take this very, very seriously. We believe we have staff who are trained to do investigations. We make sure all parties in the investigation are fully advised and treated fairly."
 
Both sides hope that an open dialogue will help continue to increase sexual assault awareness.

Jennifer Fuller joined Capitol News Illinois in July 2023 as the organization’s broadcast director. She will oversee the launch and operations of CNI’s new broadcast division.

Contact Jennifer Fuller at jfuller@capitolnewsillinois.com
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