All quotes below shared with permission:
- “GVSC services have been a great source of support. When a situation was overwhelming and I didn’t know what to do, they helped me figure out a path forward.”
- “Connecting with GVSCs had made me feel, even at my toughest moments, like I have a place on this campus. I feel safe, supported and – most importantly – heard.”
- “As a staff member, it was incredibly helpful to have someone from the GVSC to speak to and get clarity on what the next steps in submitting a report will look like for my students.”
Noting a need for violence prevention and advocacy
Ten years ago, Carolina established the Gender Violence Services Coordinator (GVSC) program through an Office on Violence Against Women Act grant written by Christi Hurt ‘93 (MPA ‘98; DrPh ‘21), now the chief of staff to the chancellor and by Bob Pleasants ‘00 (PhD ‘07), the director of the Office for Undergraduate Research.
Originally situated in the Carolina Women’s Center, the GVSC program is now part of Student Affairs’ Violence Prevention and Advocacy Services (VPAS), which has a two-fold mission of violence prevention and confidential support and advocacy. The GVSCs serve all students, faculty, staff, and postdoctoral fellows impacted by sexual violence, interpersonal violence, stalking, and sexual and gender-based harassment.
“We have a literal front row seat to the hurt, pain, frustration, and grief that too many in our community face because of gender-based violence and harassment. Yet, I also believe we see some of the strongest resilience on campus, as individuals navigate the support they need and take steps to keep moving forward,” said Holly Lovern, the director of VPAS.
Instrumental work from Cassidy Johnson ‘07 helped the program flourish – Johnson built the program to work alongside existing services and departments and created an extended network around and beyond campus in support of students, faculty, and staff. In 2016, the University added a second community advocate, which allowed the team to grow and focus not only on providing support and services, but also expanding outreach and program visibility.
Ten years of building community
Over the last decade, the GVSC team, including Kayla Zollinger and Connor McCaffrey (MSW ‘23), have worked to shape and define the program’s purpose to ensure that support and services have a meaningful impact for members of our campus community. Experiences of gender-based violence are difficult and complex to navigate and can intersect with someone’s time on campus in many ways. GVSCs seek to learn and understand the ways in which gender-based violence impacts students and employees, the barriers it creates, and the needs people have.
“Carolina’s a big place, and we often hear that one of the most valuable things we do is help make it feel a bit more manageable by connecting people with the resources they need so they don’t have to figure it out alone,” Lovern said.
The GVSC’s support and services are tailored to individual needs and interests. For some, that may be an affirming space to discuss experiences. For others, it may be identifying the appropriate resource to address concerns or questions they have. It may involve sharing more about reporting options and supporting them as they navigate processes and systems. Others reach out to learn how to support and help a friend or peer. There’s a strong network of resources on campus and in the community, and part of the GVSCs role is to help individuals expand their support network.
Effective and informed support services
The GVSCs serve an average of 100 students and employees each semester. Their services have continuously evolved to meet the changing needs of our campus and to reflect shifts in the field of campus victim/survivor advocacy, prevention, and response. Ninety-eight percent of respondents in a multi-year feedback survey said they would refer the GVSC to a peer, friend, or colleague.
“It’s important for us to remember all of the faculty, staff, students, who supported survivors over many decades before the formal launch of the GVSC program,” Hurt said. “This program launched on the shoulders of those giants, and we are forever grateful for the work of those who came before us and to the team that continues to expand that work.”
At a recent event to mark the milestone anniversary, Lovern said GVSC staff were grateful for the trust and respect they’ve cultivated both on campus and within the community, among partners and other resources, and most importantly, with the students and employees who choose to share their experiences with the GVSCs.
“Effective and informed support and response relies on a multidisciplinary approach, and we’re grateful you all are part of our network. We genuinely value the trust that many in our community have held in us by reaching out, connecting, and sharing their experiences.”