After recent campus news concerning sexual assault, students spoke up and a faculty member shared resources available on and off campus for victims.
Two Coastal Carolina University men’s basketball players, Joshua Beadle and Nadjrick Peat, were arrested on charges of third-degree sexual conduct on March 24. According to a university press release the next day, “As with any alleged violations of the University’s Code of Student Conduct, the University will proceed through the appropriate student conduct process.” The university has not sent out an official update since.
In response to news of the arrest, students said they thought that CCU should’ve sent out information or updates to help keep students at ease with the recent events that occurred.
Freshman communications major Ella Gates said that social media would be a great place to make students aware of what’s going on.
“I feel like on social media, everyone’s on it. So, spreading awareness there could be a good way to reach most students,” Gates said.
Freshman political science major Abigail Evans said she doesn’t think there is enough awareness or places people can go to seek help on campus.
“I feel like they [CCU] could probably send emails too after everything that came out,” Evans said. “They could have sent an email about where people could go if they really needed them. But they didn’t.”
Shelley Sasser, assistant director of prevention and healthy relationships at Coastal, clarified the places students can go to seek help before or after an incident has occurred. She said that such incidents can be reported by emailing [email protected] or calling the Title IX coordinator at 843 349-2382.
The UNIV-468 Title IX Policy covers the following defined offenses under Sexual Assault:
“Sex offenses, forcible – any sexual act directed against another person, without the Consent of the victim including instances where the victim is incapable of giving Consent.” Forcible sex offenses include forcible rape, forcible sodomy, sexual assault with an object and forcible fondling.
“Sex offenses, nonforcible – (except prostitution offenses) unlawful, nonforcible sexual intercourse.” Nonforcible sex offenses include statutory rape and sexual exploration.
“Sexual Harassment includes sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking and discrimination based on sex.” Sexual harassment offenses must fall under the quid pro harassment or hostile environment categories.
“Stalking: engaging in a Course of Conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable Person to (i) fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others; or (ii) suffer Substantial Emotional Distress”
Sasser said that if a student needs to be evaluated after an incident, they are recommended to McLeod Health. If a student is looking to file a report, they are directed to CCU’s Department of Public Safety, where they can also speak to a victim advocate.
“They can also help with identifying relevant resources and referrals to you. And you can go that route, also, if you need legal advocacy,” Sasser said.
Sasser also said that free HIV or STI testing can be done at Careteam Plus, a local medical center.
In addition to these resources, LiveWell will be presenting a speaking engagement event on Thursday from 4-5 p.m., in room A201 in the Lib Jackson Student Union.
According to the event’s flyer, Tools and Strategies to Prevent Sexual Assault is a place where students can gain knowledge about sexual violence and the issues that are trending among students on college campuses.
Coming forward with their own story, a CCU alum and survivor of sexual assault said that they believe all sports at CCU may conceal issues. Due to safety reasons and the sensitivity of the topic they have chosen to remain anonymous.
“It’s more important to them that the player plays, especially when it’s a starter, or it’s somebody that’s valuable,” an anonymous source said. “It’s more important that they play than be held accountable for their actions.”
The anonymous source said that in the future, they want CCU to create a safer space for victims to come forward and seek the help they need.
