Bettering Sexual Health or Mangling Morals: Debates Over Sexual Health Education on Campus

A flyer for the Clothesline Project in March

By Jillian Cready and Sophie Dwyer

On March 21, approximately 200 t-shirts were hung across the Coates Espionage. Each shirt carried a survivor’s story of sexual assault. These shirts were for the Clothesline Project, an event held by The Coalition for Sexual Justice, a Trinity student organization.

The event stirred quite some controversy on campus. Supporters lauded the opportunity of giving voice to the survivors and getting people’s attention to the problem of sexual assault on campus. Opponents, particularly Greek organizations and athletic teams, opposed the allegations of their members involving in some of these assault cases. One student was surprised the school allowed such a public, outspoken event about assault and abuse.

The Clothesline Project was but one of the latest sexual health initiatives at Trinity, and the controversy surrounding it testifies the contentious nature of sexual health education. As Trinity University progresses their attempts to address the issue of sexual health through various programs in recent years, it is debatable whether the public awareness of these efforts has also progressed, or whether these efforts have served to create an uncomfortable space for students.

Greek Council Poised to Promote Sexual Justice and Diversity

Students gathered at the Greek U leadership retreat
on March 22 (photo by Jacob Tingle) 

By KaDarius Lee

At their first meeting of this year on Monday, Trinity's Greek Council discussed collaboration with university and city organizations to promote sexual justice and diversity on campus.

Ten members of the Greek Council Executive Board as well as two representatives from each sorority and fraternity on campus attended the meeting. Tayler Weathers, communications chair for Greek Council, said Trinity University’s Coalition for Sexual Justice and the San Antonio Rape Crisis Center "are interested in collaborating with Greek organizations in order to help in the fight for sexual justice on campus."

These organizations have reached out to Greek Council about collaborating and having a sit down with organizations to discuss how to raise awareness and tackle sexual justice issues on campus.

Trinity About to Hire Title IX Coordinator

Coalition for Sexual Justice held their first meeting. (photo by Jillian Cready)

By Nick Smetzer, Jillian Cready and Mark Tindall

Trinity University is in search of a new Title IX coordinator, said members of Coalition for Sexual Justice at their first meeting on Wednesday. 

With the new hire, the university will have someone especially equipped and devoted to handle Title IX-related issues, such as investigations of sexual misconducts, outreach, and policy making.

“Right now, Title IX is being handled by people without it in their job description,” said senior Hannah Braley, a leader of the coalition, formerly known as the Coalition for Respect. “It’s a lot of work, and we feel as though students’ needs aren’t currently being met.”