"Wake Forest Title IX Office" Archive

Title IX updates and new director Aishah Casseus

Aishah Casseus has been named Wake Forest University Title IX director, effective October 1. Casseus previously held similar positions at Winston-Salem State University and Florida State University. Casseus, a licensed attorney, earned her Juris Doctor degree from North Carolina Central University in Durham, with a concentration in Constitutional Law and Civil Rights. She earned her bachelor’s degree in social science, with a minor in sociology, from Troy University in Dothan, Alabama. Headshot of Aishah Casseus

In May, the U.S. Department of Education announced new regulations for Title IX, the federal gender-equity law. Notable changes include mandated live hearings and the allowance of cross-examination when deciding sexual-misconduct complaints. These are are the first such regulatory changes to the law in nearly 50 years.

The Wake Forest University Title IX 2020 Implementation Task Force began meeting in June to develop new policies in compliance with all aspects of the federal law and to maintain the University’s highest priorities: equity, fairness, access, safety and respect for the entire Wake Forest community. Vice President for Campus Life Penny Rue and Associate Provost for Academic Initiatives Kami Chavis co-chaired the task force, which included a Student Advisory Group. Jessica Telligman, who served as interim Title IX coordinator, and Stephanie Trilling, director of the Women’s Center, led the Student Advisory Group, which provided invaluable student input throughout the policy development process.

The University and Task Force are glad to welcome Cassus as new Title IX director. “Aishah brings with her a tremendous amount of experience in the Title IX and 504 (b) areas,” Chavis said. “We look forward to working with her and benefitting from her expertise.”

“I want to ensure that everyone on our campus fully understands their responsibilities and the way Wake Forest feels about equity in access,” Casseus said.

Read more at Wake Forest News.

Listening sessions to be held Jan. 27 as part of search for new Title IX director

Students, faculty and staff are invited to attend the first listening sessions that are part of a University search for a new director of the Title IX Office.

The sessions are as follows:

Jan. 27, 9-9:45 a.m., Benson University Center, Room 410
Jan. 27, 4:15-5 p.m., Reynolda Hall, Room 301

More listening sessions will be scheduled at a later time.

A University committee is leading the search for the director.  Additional information about the position and the search is available in an announcement made earlier this week by the committee chair Kami Chavis, who is associate vice provost for academic initiatives, associate vice president and professor of law.

Sexual Assault Reported

This alert was emailed to students, faculty and staff on Apr. 28 by Wake Forest Communications and External Relations:

Wake Forest University is issuing this timely warning concerning an incident of concern to the campus community.

At approximately 4 a.m. today, Wake Forest University Police responded to a report of a sexual assault of a student. The incident is reported to have occurred in the student’s Taylor Residence Hall room between approximately 2 and 3:15 a.m.

The Winston-Salem Police Department is investigating, with assistance by the Wake Forest University Police Department. The alleged offender is known to the victim. Read more

Categories: Inside WFU

Possible sexual assault reported

This alert was emailed to students, faculty and staff on Feb. 11 by Wake Forest Communications and External Relations:

Wake Forest is issuing this alert concerning a reported incident that may be of concern to the campus community.

This weekend, a Wake Forest University student reported a possible sexual assault to the Winston-Salem Police Department.  Details regarding time and location of the possible sexual assault are unclear at this time.

The Winston-Salem Police Department is investigating, with assistance by the Wake Forest University Police Department.

Wake Forest is providing resources to assist the individual involved in this incident and will continue to take actions to maintain the safety and security of the campus community.

It is important for all of us to focus on the things that we can all do to keep ourselves and others safe.

  • Call 911: If you feel uneasy or unsafe, go to a safe location and call a friend or the police at 911. When your safety is at risk or you need a safe escort on campus, contact University Police, available 24 hours at 336-758-5911.
  • Download Live Safe Mobile app:http://police.wfu.edu/safety/live-safe-app/
  • Ask a friend who may be in a potentially dangerous situation if they want to leave and then make sure that they get home safely.

If you have experienced a sexual offense, we encourage you to seek support. If you or a friend have questions or concerns about sexual offenses, you can contact the following resources for confidential information and support:

Safe Office: [Confidential]
Helpline 24/7: 336-758-5285, Benson Center, Room 414

Student Health Service: [Confidential]
336-758-5218, Lower Level of Reynolds Gym

Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center [Confidential]
Medical Center Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC 27157

University Counseling Center: [Confidential]
336-758-5273, Reynolda Hall, Room 117

Office of the Chaplain: [Confidential]
336-758-5017, Reynolda Hall, Suite 8

If you would like to report a sexual offense, please contact any of the following offices:

University Police
336-758- 5911

Wake Forest University Title IX Office
336-758-7258, Reynolda Hall, Room 307

To obtain information about sexual offense prevention, contact:

Safe Office: [Confidential]
Helpline 24/7: 336-758-5285, Benson Center, Room 414

University Police
336-758-5591 (non-emergency)

Rape Aggression Defense (RAD)
336-758-5591
rad@wfu.edu

Other resources:

Winston-Salem Police Department
336-773-7700
911 in an emergency

Family Services/Forsyth County
24/7 Sexual Assault help line: 336-722-4457
24/7 Domestic Violence help line: 336-723-8125

Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center [Confidential]
3333 Silas Creek Pkwy, Winston-Salem, NC 27103

This Timely Notice is sent in compliance with the provisions of the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1998.

Wake Forest Communications and External Relations

Categories: Inside WFU

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