On Monday afternoon, the Temple Student Government general body meeting assembled to discuss Temple’s efforts to prevent sexual misconduct on campus.
Ray Smeriglio, student body president, announced an executive update about the university’s steps towards creating a safer environment for students.
Climate surveys have been sent by email to students to gauge how individuals feel about their personal safety on campus. Students have also been asked to join focus groups to discuss issues like sexual misconduct.
“[These] will give a snapshot of what it’s like to be a Temple student here,” Smeriglio said. “Temple is at the forefront of addressing the problem off the bat.”
Smeriglio also said that executive leadership from TSG went to Washington, D.C. to speak with government staff about handling the national issue of sexual violence.
President Barack Obama launched the campaign in September to recognize, identify and intervene when sexual misconduct is occurring.
TSG hopes to launch It’s On Us on campus and include the Temple community in taking the pledge.
Committee meetings discussed various issues of the week, including the election. Government Affairs stressed the importance of voting and considered the reasons why college students typically have a low voter turnout.
Jalen Blot, director of campus life and diversity, announced that a TUnity committee will be created. TUnity was the diversity event held on Oct. 28 at the Bell Tower.
“The TUnity committee is being assembled to make sure that the movement grows and that the campus has ambassadors for it to continue to grow and reach out to other students with different perspectives,” Blot said in an email.
The student organization of the week was the Temple Vietnamese Student Association for a successful Miss Temple Asia pageant last weekend. The Vietnamese Student Association will also be holding a Mr. Temple Asia pageant in the spring semester.
This Saturday is the global day of service as well as the last “Adopt-A-Block” opportunity for the fall semester.
Lian Parsons can be reached at lian.parsons@temple.edu or on Twitter @Lian_Parsons.
