Editor’s Note: This story contains mentions of sexual violence.
550 days. The number of days I’ve felt unsafe at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, on edge and hurting from the impact of others’ actions. 550 days. The number of opportunities that my university has had to protect me and hold others accountable. That number might seem small, but the average student spends 952 days in college.
I am a survivor of sexual harassment and assault. But the greatest pain has come at the hands of the university. Over the past year and a half, I turned to Institutional Equity and Compliance (IEC, also known as Title IX) seeking protection and resolution. If you’ve never heard of IEC, you’re not alone. Most students can spend their entire time on campus never engaging with them, not knowing what lies past the door of Canfield 128. Not me. I’ve exchanged over 200 emails with IEC. Instead of resolution, protection and healing, I’ve been victim-blamed, retraumatized and silenced…