Ms. Robyn Shepheard is a former employee of Alpha Epsilon Delta (http://www.newsevents.tcu.edu/print/2215.htm). Therefore, it is incorrect to state that the University terminated Ms. Shepheard.

TCU sincerely appreciates Ms. Shepheard’s concerns about sexual assault on college campuses and understands her concerns for TCU’s students’ safety. TCU shares her concerns and has, for many years, been proactive in educating students about sexual assault. Additionally, the University has a comprehensive plan in place for victims in the event that a sexual assault occurs. Listed below are the resources that are already in place at TCU:

• Nformed – All first year students are required to actively participate in an online educational course that addresses sexual assault prevention prior to coming to campus.

• Need to Know (N2K) – This is a mandatory program for first year students that informs them about situations and consequences of choices ranging from sexual assault to alcohol and drug abuse and provides them with information about campus resources. This program occurs during the orientation week prior to the first day of classes.

• Assault Prevention Theater – This dramatic reenactment about sexual assault in a college setting facilitates incoming students thinking about their decision making in relation to others, helps them identify ways to intervene as a bystander and assists the campus in setting a tone about the need to respect and protect each other.

• 1 in 4 – This is a program that is run by male staff to help young men understand the impact of sexual assault and works to empower them to support a campus where sexual assault is not acceptable.

 

• RAD – Rape Aggression Defense is a daylong course taught by our campus police department designed to teach students physical ways to protect themselves.
 
• Victim Advocates – Several members of the Student Affairs staff are trained to be advocates for students who report that they have been assaulted.  All of these advocates have advanced degrees and the training associated with advocacy for sexual assault victims.
 
• Network of Support – In the event that a student becomes a victim of assault, there is a strong network of support from a fully functioning health center, a counseling center staffed by six full time psychologists and one psychiatrist, victim advocates and a judicial program that takes administrative action on violations of the student code of conduct.
 
TCU also follows best practices as outlined by the Clery Act, the federal act that mandates the reporting of campus crime.  This report can be found on the University’s Campus Police website.   Additionally, the TCU campus has a professional, commissioned police force, emergency phones located all over campus, a late night shuttle and police escort service and a campus that continually assesses its lighting, fencing and landscaping with the intent of creating a secure environment for our campus community.