Title IX at High Point University

In this article, I delve into the inner working of Title IX, a concept that handles consequences and victim protection of sexual assault on college campuses and how Jerry Trew implements and excels at such a responsibility.

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Jerry Trew means business. High Point University’s Title IX director is on a mission to create an environment that encourages sexual assault victims to come forward with the assurance that their school has the tools and abilities to properly confront the situation.

“My purpose as a Title IX director is not punishment,” says Jerry Trew, who was hired just last year by HPU. “Of course, you could be easily expelled from the university if you commit one of the egregious acts under a Title IX assault. But my purpose is to keep a survivor in school, whether they report it to the police or not.”

Trew’s approach is guided by the High Point University Resource Guide for Victims of Sexual Assault, Dating Violence and Stalking, stating that “Title IX protects people from sex discrimination in educational programs and activities at institutions. Title IX applies to HPU programs and activities, as related to both education and employment.”

Title IX approaches sexual assault far differently than the criminal justice system. Trew says that “5 percent of rapes are reported while 95 percent of robberies are reported even though they are both top rated felonies.” The issue with these statistics is that they have become what they are because of the way the criminal justice system reacts to them.

Trew rationalized how if a situation were to arise that he had been mugged, they would ask for a description, call all their free cars to the scene, investigate and take it seriously.

Meanwhile, if he were to report that he had been sexually assaulted, he would have to prove to them that there’s some sort of evidence that could even lead them to believe they need to look for a defendant. “The victimology of sexual assault leads to the lack of reporting,” says Trew.

Trew’s main goal is to make the campus a safe space, not in the sense that nothing heinous will occur, but that students will feel safe enough to report those events when they do.

Title IX prohibits retaliation against anyone who, in good faith, has made allegations of sexual assault or who has testified, assisted or participated in any investigation, proceeding, or hearing related to Title IX.

Trew has made tremendous progress in exposing sexual assault cases and sorting out situations with respect to the victim. HPU, however, has always done everything in its power to cover up its own bad press. So how is Jerry Trew still here?

“We’re the 5th safest campus in America. While getting people to understand that only 5 percent of assaults are reported means that if my training is any good, those numbers will go up,” said Trew.

Even with all the progress HPU has made as a whole, students will always have their own opinions on what they think goes on behind Student Life’s closed doors. Victoria Cotnoir, a York Hall RA and Strategic Communications major, says she feels she received the proper training to handle a sexual assault case reported to her.

In terms of Cotnoir’s own experience, “Since the school hired an experienced and well respected professional as a Title IX director, the school’s staff has been put through much more training on how to handle sexual assault situations and how to talk to its victims,” Cotnoir said, “I would feel comfortable enough to let Gerry Trew handle my case, but I wouldn’t have before he got here.”

Trew sermonized, “Last year I had zero reports from Greek Village in the first semester requesting my assistance. I knew that was ridiculous based on what I knew was happening on campus on the weekends. Already this year I’ve had 5 cases reported to me.”

He is aware that students won’t let themselves stumble around, intoxicated in downtown High Point the way they do on campus on Friday and Saturday nights. Trew encourages students to have that “downtown” attitude while on campus.

A Friday or Saturday night on HPU’s campus can play out very differently for a girl like Victoria Cotnoir than it would for a guy on campus. Cotnoir explained that she knows what can happen on a college campus when drinking is involved, “but compared to living in a city or even going to a state school with a huge downtown night life, I feel a little less threatened.”

Teddy Dallam, another communication major, had his own take on how a night out can unfold from the male perspective. Although he himself feels safe, he fears for his friends being assaulted or taken advantage of, particularly his female friends.

In terms of the school improving their safety, Dallam felt it comes down to the mentality of HPU’s students. “Firstly, I think we should be chastising a culture that enables the mentality behind sexual assault (viewing others as only objects for sexual pleasure),” Dallam explained, “Secondly, training people to be aware of monitoring their environment and looking out for each other in groups is also a possible solution.”

Trew has gone as far as to change when the campus engages in a Sexual Assault Prevention Week, switching it from May to September. If the week was brought to light in May, it would take place in the midst of finals, just a few short weeks before summer break. If any progress were to be made, it would go down the tubes shortly after.

Fortunately, Trew got Sexual Assault Prevention Week to be moved to what he calls, “The Red Zone” which is the first few weeks of the fall semester, when most sexual assaults happen.

HPU’s Sexual Assault Prevention Week, taking place from September 25th to September 28th partners with sororities and fraternities like Alpha Chi Omega and Beta Theta Pi. Activities include self-defense classes, an introduction to the Title IX team and the opportunity to pledge to become a “Highstander.”

Cotnoir felt the that school offers some key tools that allows a student feel safe on campus day or night, but does not particularly make sure that students ae aware of them “For instance,” she said, “we have Care Alerts and “livsafe” apps but nobody really knows how to use them.”

Through all actions that Jerry Trew has taken hand-in-hand with Title IX and HPU security, administrators of the university have shown that they stay far away from the mentality of big name schools. Title IX steers clear of shaming the victim or sweeping dangerous cases under the rug to protect their star quarterback or diminish bad press.