As progressive as Montclair State University is, it is surprising that there is an extremely important document which applies heavily to the student body that has not been updated since 1989. Femvolution, a direct-action feminist organization on campus, is working to rectify this.
Under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, all students at public and private schools, colleges, and universities that receive any federal financial assistance are protected against acts of sexual violence. This includes students who are male, female, straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender; part-time and full-time; with and without disabilities; and of different races and national origins.
Even though all students at Montclair State University are technically covered under the federal sexual assault policy, Femvolution feels students should not feel completely comfortable quite yet.
According to Montclair State University’s current sexual assault and sexual harassment policies; transgender students, international students and undocumented students are not explicitly protected against sexual violence on campus. Femvolution has been avidly working to get the wording of the policies changed.
Derlina Dias, a senior Family and Child Studies major with a concentration in Family Services as well as Vice President of Femvolution, spoke of the effects the current policies’ wording could have on students. “Even if [Montclair’s policy] says, ‘Oh, everyone is included’, that doesn’t mean anything,” she said. “If I’m undocumented and something happens to me, I’m going to be afraid to go to the police...I could go to jail; they could deport me.”
In an effort to bring this issue to President Susan Cole’s attention last year, Femvolution collected roughly 200 signatures and made a letter delivery to President Cole. Within a day, the club received a response from Dr. Pennington, Vice President for Student Development and Campus Life, to set up a meeting and discuss updating Montclair State’s policies.
But, it never happened. Femvolution was supposed to try and meet again with Dr. Pennington over the summer of 2015, but that also never came into fruition.
“I know it is crazy busy over the summer, so a couple weeks ago we reached out to them again,” stated Dias. Montclair’s administration told Femvolution they had been working on altering the policies over the summer, but no progress has been made yet.
“As long as it’s happening, we don’t care. The whole point is to have students feel like they are safe,” said Dias.
Carey Gsell, a senior Theater Studies major and transgender student on campus spoke on how she believes students can work together to encourage Montclair State University to change the wording of their policy. “I think the [LGBTQ] Center should get involved and I think having Femvolution involved will help as well.”
Changing Montclair State’s policies’ wording is just one step Femvolution is making in creating a safe environment for students on campus. “Being an example is...one of the greatest things you can do,” gushed Dias. “If you yourself are trying to, are showing you are accepting and understanding of other people, then you are showing people around you.”
Femvolution is setting the perfect example. Their club numbers are constantly expanding, garnering excited and passionate students who are determined to create a safe and fantastic environment not just for Montclair State University’s campus now, but Montclair State University’s campus forever.
