As a settlement in the Lisa Simpson sexual assault case, CU has created a Gender Violence Prevention and Education Coordinator position on the CU campus.
In December 2001, Lisa Simpson—a former CU student—was a victim in a sexual assault case involving CU football players at an off-campus party. Simpson sued CU and eventually settled the case out of court. One of the terms of the settlement was the creation of the Gender Violence Prevention and Education Coordinator Position.
Davian Gagne has taken on the new position at CU. Gagne works with a large list of groups including but not limited to Community Health, the Women’s Resource Center, Interactive Theater, GLBT Resource Center, Student Outreach Retention Center for Equity, Alcohol and Other Drug Programs, and the Vice Chancellor’s Office for Student Affairs.
Gagne came to CU in July of 2008. Before coming to CU Gagne worked for the Sexual Assault Prevention Program as the Data Analyst and Program Evaluator and assisted sexual assault prevention programs throughout the state with developing curriculum, incorporating prevention best practice principles into agency initiatives, and administering needs assessments.
When asked what her position requires of her, Gagne said “I work with various programs on campus to provide training and presentations to students, staff, and faculty on gender violence prevention. I also co-coordinate the Sexual Assault/Sexual Harassment (SASH) committee. Currently, the SASH committee is in the process of developing a comprehensive plan to prevent gender violence here at CU. By creating and implementing the plan, SASH is hoping to make CU a leader in the field of campus violence prevention.”
With more and more people not aware of the Lisa Simpson case, students may not see the importance of what Gagne does. Freshman Jordan Ainsworth, a business administration major, lived with a girl who was sexually assaulted, and does not think prevention programs are beneficial.
“People are going to act the way the want, they are in college and are going to do what they are going to do.” Ainsworth said.
Toby Veal, a freshman open option major who plays on the CU men’s basketball team, said he thinks prevention programs against gender violence can be beneficial.
“I think it might help a lot. It will help solve some of these problems,” Veal said in reference to gender violence. “But I mean people are going to do what they are going to do. They are on their own now, but some think about the consequences before they act.”
Coming from the University of Denver, Gagne received her undergraduate and graduate degree, with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in social work. Gagne says she has been doing social work both professionally and as a volunteer for over four years.
Gagne explained how her position came to be.
“It was a mandate as part of the settlement that the position be created and funds be allocated to support the position part time on campus,” she said.
CU provides victim assistance and the Office of Victim Assistance can be reached at 303-492-8855. Gagne can be reached at 303-492-5951.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Kenny Rosenstein at kenneth.rosenstein@colorado.edu
