To:  All Students

From: Melissa Van Der Wall, Dean of Students & Vice President for Student Well-Being

Date: March 28, 2024

Dear Student:

Ramapo College recognizes April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. During the month, the Office of Violence Prevention, in collaboration with both on and off campus partners, promotes  programs, resources, education, and support networks in order to continue to foster a community that aims at eradicating sexual violence.  According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, we dedicate this time in April to call on all individuals, communities, organizations and systems surrounding us to do whatever it takes to end sexual harassment, assault, and abuse.  The menu of offerings for the month of April are designed to engage you in understanding the prevalence of sexual violence, the importance of survivor-centered programs and trauma-informed support, and to reinforce that we are all responsible for condemning sexual harassment, assault, and abuse alongside advocating for victims and survivors.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month Proclamation and Symposium

The Offices of Violence Prevention and Title IX are hosting the Sexual Assault Awareness Month Symposium on Wednesday, April 3rd from 2:00pm to 4:15pm in the Trustees Pavilion. The Sexual Assault Awareness Month Proclamation, read by President Jebb, will occur at the opening of the symposium followed by a resource fair featuring Ramapo College student research, and student and faculty speakers from 2:00pm to 3:00pm.  Finally, there will be breakout sessions from 3:00pm to 4:15pm.

Training and Development

All students, upon arrival to Ramapo College, are required to complete sexual violence, bystander intervention and affirmative consent training via in-person and remote learning opportunities. I want you to continue to have the tools at your ready to promote a healthy and safe environment for all and invite you to continue the learning process by this free training tool: Consent Culture Refresher Training.  You may also engage in continuous training by attending the above-mentioned symposium whereby there is a specific student-focused training session from 3:15pm to 4:15pm in the Pavilion (“Transformative Connections: Exploring Awareness, Agency, and Allyship).

Resources and Support

During the month of April (and beyond), certain messages may trigger the need for emotional support.  Any student in need of emotional support should call Counseling Services (24 hours) at 201-684-7522 and request to speak to a counselor.  Students may also seek assistance from the below referenced resources:

healingSpace: Bergen County’s Sexual Violence Resource Center, call or text 201-487-2227 (24 hours)

Title IX Office at Ramapo College (Kat McGee, Director of Title IX, ADA, and Compliance Training), Call 201-684-7220 (business hours)

Public Safety, Call 201-684-6666 (24 hours)

Mahwah Police 9-1-1 (24 hours)

Office of Violence Prevention, Call 201-684-7430 (business hours)

 Alternatives to Domestic Violence, Call 201-336-7575 (24 hours)

The New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault, 1-800-601-7200 (24 hours)

RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline, Call 1-800-656-4673 (24 hours)

National Domestic Violence Hotline, Call 1-800-799-7233 (24 hours)

I encourage all students to be aware of the options developed to report sexual violence, found here. We are all responsible for upholding a healthy and positive community and to object when one witnesses activity that runs counter to our values of mutual respect and dignity for all.  As April approaches, we are grateful for the teams of faculty, staff, students, and external partners who will join us in programming to erase all forms of violence from our campus.