Michigan’s First Lady Names Henry Ford College’s Aura Cazares to Campus Sexual Assault Workgroup

Earlier this month, Michigan’s First Lady Sue Snyder named Aura Cazares, the student conduct/compliance officer and Title IX coordinator at Henry Ford College (HFC), as one of 16 people to the Campus Sexual Assault Workgroup.

“I believe that here in Michigan, we are on the forefront of a sweeping movement that will change the culture surrounding assault across the nation,” said Snyder.

Snyder called upon the Michigan Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board (MDVPTB) to create this workgroup. Its task is developing resources for survivors of campus sexual assault that will be available to college and university campuses all over Michigan and their community partners. The workgroup will develop a survivor handbook, which will be released at the third annual “Inform. Empower. Prevent.” summit on Monday, Sept. 25, at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) in Ypsilanti.

Title IX, passed in 1972 as part of the Education Amendments, is the federal civil rights law forbidding discrimination based on sex or gender in programs receiving federal funding. This regulation applies to students, employees of the institution, third parties or visitors. The Violence Against Women Reauthorization ACT/Campus SaVE Act – published Oct. 20, 2014 – added a new section to Title IX compliance entitled “Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act” (Campus SaVE Act), which amends the Clery Act (and the Higher Education Act of 1965) Sec 304. It added new sexual misconduct categories: sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. Furthermore, it separates ethnicity/national origin and includes sexual orientation.

“Sexual assault does not discriminate. It can happen anywhere and to anyone. It doesn’t matter the type of institution, location, or person. For this reason, I am honored to have been selected as a member of this workgroup. I am excited to provide insight about community colleges and aid in developing tools to inform, empower, and prevent sexual assault across Michigan institutions,” said Cazares.

Cazares has an undergraduate degree in business administration/marketing and a graduate degree in interdisciplinary studies – marketing and communications, both from the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM). She has been the Title IX coordinator at HFC since October 2013. She is one of three members of the workgroup who will represent Title IX coordinators.

“I thank each of these individuals who are lending their expertise to help develop and distribute these vital resources to those who need them most,” said Snyder.

For further information on Snyder’s initiative to end campus sexual assault in Michigan, go to http://www.endcampussexualassault.com/.