The U.S. Department of Justice awarded the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu $2 million over three years to increase the university鈥檚 threat assessment and violence prevention capabilities in K–12 private, charter, and public schools and their communities throughout Hawaiʻi.

“This award is significant, both in the amount and the scope since it not only continues to build knowledge and capacity of Behavior Threat Assessment and Management within K–12 schools and connected communities, but it helps the state with identifying options for violence prevention to assist with keeping our school communities safer during these challenging times,” said Principal Investigator Bev Baligad, who serves as 糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu鈥檚 director of compliance, Title IX coordinator and Behavior Intervention Team manager.

The project is titled, “Hawaiʻi State Targeted Violence Prevention鈥擲chool Community and Threat Assessment Team Training and Capacity Building.”

Goals and expected outcomes

• increased threat assessment and violence prevention capabilities on involved campuses
• sustainable violence prevention practices in K–12 schools and its communities
• successful application of bystander intervention techniques by members of school and campus communities
• school Behavior Threat Assessment teams operating under national best practice
• improved cultural perception of threat assessment and violence prevention practices in school and campus communities

Partnerships that will support the project include the Hawaiʻi Office of Homeland Security, the Hawaiʻi State Fusion Center (HSFC), K–12 private and charter schools, Threat Team Hawaiʻi, and other public and private organizations and businesses. Additionally, 糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu is a lead implementing partner in the , working closely with Homeland Security and HSFC to achieve state-wide violence prevention.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security awarded targeted violence and terrorism prevention grants to Baligad in and , totaling more than $1.3 million, to help build Hawaiʻi state school threat assessment teams and to further state community awareness efforts.

“糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu intends to fulfill its commitment to the prevention of acts of targeted violence in Hawaiʻi by working closely with schools and fostering the establishment of sustainable threat assessment teams and practices,” Baligad said.

—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman

The University of Hawaiʻi is hosting two events on March 31, 2025, to empower 糖心Vlog官方 students, faculty, staff and community members with essential knowledge about their rights and responsibilities, particularly in today鈥檚 rapidly changing political landscape. These events will offer valuable resources, foster dialogue and help create a more engaged community.

‘Know Your Rights’ immigration law webinar

“Know Your Rights: A Practical Guide to Constitutional Rights and Immigration Enforcement,” is a free webinar from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The event aims to ensure that individuals understand their rights and obligations should they encounter U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other law enforcement officials.

The session will provide guidance on navigating interactions during home raids, street stops and encounters at school or the workplace. Hear from a panel of professionals, including:

• Minda Yamaga, assistant federal defender, District of Hawaiʻi Office of the Federal Public Defender
• Stella Shimamoto, associate attorney, immigration, Hirota & Associates; past chair, Hawaiʻi Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association
• Sherry Nohara, managing attorney, Noha Immigration Law; former senior attorney, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement; chair, Hawaiʻi Chapter, American Immigration Lawyers Association
• Esther Sungeun Yoo, assistant professor of law and director, Refugee and Immigration Law Clinic, Clinical Law Program, William S. Richardson School of Law

Participants will receive multilingual materials to help them confidently handle situations with law enforcement. This event is co-sponsored by the Refugee and Immigration Law Clinic at the 糖心Vlog官方 M膩noa William S. Richardson School of Law and the Office of Compliance, EEO, and Title IX at the 糖心Vlog官方 Community Colleges.

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Students鈥� conversation on speech, law and pilina

糖心Vlog官方 M膩noa Pilina Support Team invites 糖心Vlog官方 community members to attend “From Fear to Empowerment: A Student-Focused Conversation on Speech, Law, and Pilina” from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Queen Liliʻuokalani Center for Student Services, Room 412. This in-person event鈥攆ocused on free speech, university rules, and responsible communication鈥攁ims to move from fear to empowerment through pilina (connection), in light of the current national political climate.

Presenters include: Lauren Robel, lecturer in law, William S. Richardson School of Law, and Camaron Miyamoto, director of the LGBTQ+ Center at 糖心Vlog官方 M膩noa. Participants will engage in an interactive session to share reactions to hypothetical scenarios.

Light refreshments will be provided. .

Students from the 10 campuses of the University of Hawaiʻi are being encouraged to participate in the 糖心Vlog官方 Sex Based Discrimination and Harassment Student Survey. The anonymous and voluntary survey is open to students 18 years old and older from February 4 to March 10, and can only be accessed through an email with the subject line “糖心Vlog官方 students: Please complete the sexual harassment and sex-based violence survey” sent from 鈥�糖心Vlog官方 President (Omnitrak on behalf of 糖心Vlog官方) .鈥�

“Sexual harassment and sex-based violence on college campuses are serious issues nationwide,” said 糖心Vlog官方 President Wendy Hensel in an a February 4 email to students. “糖心Vlog官方 has made significant progress in responding to these issues across our 10 campuses, largely thanks to your participation in a student survey conducted every two years.”

Why participation matters

This is the fifth 糖心Vlog官方 survey on sexual harassment and sex-based violence since 2017. Utilizing the campus specific data collected in the previous surveys, the Title IX coordinators from each of the 10 campuses have tailored outreach and support materials for their campus communities. Systemwide, survey insights have improved training programs and expanded advocacy services, ensuring a data-driven approach to prevention, response and awareness.

“Your experience matters to us, and your voice is critical to our efforts in creating a safe and supportive environment for all students,” Hensel said.

What the survey covers

The 20-minute survey will ask students about:

• Campus environment related to sexual harassment and sex-based violence.
• Perceptions of 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 response to reports of harassment or violence.
• Awareness of resources and reporting options for sexual violence, sexual harassment, stalking and interpersonal violence (domestic and dating violence).
• Prevalence and incidence of sexual violence, harassment, stalking and interpersonal violence on 糖心Vlog官方 campuses.

Students can exit and resume the survey anytime before March 10, 2025. All responses are completely anonymous and survey data will be kept confidential and reviewed only in aggregate to ensure privacy. A Frequently Asked Questions page is available with more information.

#BeHeard糖心Vlog官方

Students are encouraged to promote #BeHeard糖心Vlog官方 on social media and help raise awareness about the importance of speaking up against sexual harassment and sex-based violence.

Resources

If you have experienced sex-based harassment or violence, resources are available:

• Confidential Support—If you need help but are not ready to make a formal report, reach out to .
• Formal Reporting—To file a report, .
• Off-Campus Assistance—contact a community resource in your area.

Survey history and results

The 糖心Vlog官方 Student Survey is considered a national best practice and was first identified as a university priority in 2015. It later became a state mandate under Act 208 (2016) and has been conducted biennially since 2017. Past survey results include:

• 2018—Groundbreaking student survey on sexual harassment and gender-based violence
• 2020—Results of student survey on sexual harassment, violence
• 2022—Students feel safer on 糖心Vlog官方 campuses, according to latest student survey
• 2024—Students feel safe, aware of resources, according to survey

The survey is coordinated by the 糖心Vlog官方 System Office of EEO/TIX and conducted by OmniTrak Group, Inc.

The University of Hawaiʻi successfully conducted a week-long series of Title IX training sessions in October, underscoring its commitment to fostering safe, equitable and inclusive environments for students and employees across its 10-campus system. The four-day training at 糖心Vlog官方 M膩noa drew over 110 participants, including leadership, campus executives, and Title IX personnel, from across the state.

The training follows the implementation of 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 new interim Title IX policy and administrative procedures, effective on August 1, 2024, as required by the 2024 Title IX regulations under the U.S. Department of Education鈥檚 . The policy and training was developed with assistance from higher education attorneys at Thompson Coburn.

Feedback from post-training surveys was overwhelmingly positive, according to the 糖心Vlog官方 Office of Equity Assurance who organized the training. The participants praised the practical, real-world approach of the sessions and the expertise of the facilitators. The training initiative was a collaborative effort involving Thompson Coburn, Vice President for Administration Jan Gouveia, the Office of Equity Assurance, and the Office of Legal Affairs and University General Counsel.

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Assurance Jenn Rose explained that the training initiative is a critical component of the broader effort to comply with new federal regulations.

“We sincerely thank our Title IX Coordinators and their teams for collaborating to make this training a success,” said Rose. “Their hard work and adaptability in navigating all the recent changes have been truly invaluable.”

糖心Vlog官方 plans to build on this success by offering additional training opportunities regarding the new interim policy and procedures, and strengthening resources and support to increase safety across its campuses.

Hawaiʻi Community College Title IX Coordinator Sara Vogel gave a TEDx talk at the University of the Pacific in April titled, “Pleasure and Power: Why Pleasure Must Be Part of Consent Education.”

The goal of the TED Foundation is to foster the spread of great ideas, and it is known for its free online TED Talks. TEDx is a grassroots initiative created in the spirit of TED鈥檚 overall mission.

Vogel said:

• “It is such an honor and privilege to have a global platform to share stories and ask people to think differently about the way they speak with their partners, students, children, and communities about sexual violence prevention.

  We all can make a change in the world, and sometimes, that change begins with changing how we approach our conversations with young people in the classroom or around the dinner table.

  Evidence shows that approaching talks about consent and sexuality from a pleasure-based perspective works better than approaching conversations on consent from a fear-based perspective. Still, the stigma of talking about pleasure prevents us from leaning into this approach.

  I want to challenge everyone to rethink their relationship with the way they approach conversations on sex and sexuality with themselves, their partners, and their young people to develop a more empowered approach that focuses on agency rather than fear.”

contains a discussion on sexual assault and a description of a nonconsensual sexual act. Certain individuals may find this content triggering and/or offensive. If you anticipate that this material could cause trauma or re-traumatization, you may opt not to watch the video. For those seeking support, there are numerous resources and reporting avenues accessible to University of Hawaiʻi students and employees, both within the university and in the community.

Vogel is currently serving as a in Indigenous Studies at Vancouver Island University in Canada, and is researching decolonizing and Indigenizing sexual wellness and empowerment education鈥攆ocusing specifically on Hawaiian and Pasifika narratives.

In February, Hawaiʻi CC was named a Top Fulbright Producing Institution for its Fulbright scholars and students. It is one of only 17 associate鈥檚 degree-granting institutions out of more than 1,200 to receive the recognition for the 2023–24 academic year.

A quarter celebrating the life and legacy of the late Title IX champion and distinguished University of Hawaiʻi alumna Patsy Takemoto Mink is available for purchase from the U.S. Mint, and began shipping in March. The quarter design depicts the former U.S. Representative holding her landmark Title IX legislation, which prohibits educational institutions from discriminating on the basis of sex in any way.

• Related 糖心Vlog官方 News story: Quarter honoring Title IX champion Patsy T. Mink is released, March 28, 2024

To get an idea of the depth and breadth of Mink鈥檚 impact, 糖心Vlog官方 News interviewed 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa Professor Kathy Ferguson, who teaches political theory, feminist theory and feminist research methods. She is the recipient of awards for teaching, research and community service, and was ranked among the “Top 25“ most cited political theorists in the U.S. in “Political Science 400“.

Who was Patsy T. Mink and why was she important?

Her role in creating and passing Title IX was extraordinary. She was a cosponsor, but she did the heavy lifting, and I think as a sign of that when she died, it was renamed after her—was renamed the Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act. She also 鈥� had to keep fighting for it in the 25 years after Title IX was passed in 鈥�72. It came back 24 times. So she had to keep fighting to keep the law on the books, to keep it from being watered down, to keep it from losing its funding over and over. She was indefatigable. She just wouldn’t give up.

How did Patsy T. Mink change college sports?

She brought women onto the scene of college sports. Before Patsy Mink, very small percentages of girls and women were involved in high school or college sports. And that’s important, too, because high school sports feed college sports. After the passage, 35 years after the passage of Title IX, it was like a 400% increase in the number of girls and women involved in athletics. So in terms of the effect on athletics, it was unsurpassed. Nothing has come close to bringing more gender equality to athletics than Title IX.

How did she change higher education beyond college athletics?

She did a lot for education outside of athletics. Title IX, and the subsequent legislation to fund it and to protect it, affected gender equality in the curriculum, in counseling, and teacher preparation, the establishment of women’s studies, and women’s centers from Title IX—just a range of things—the treatment of girls and women, their health, their opportunity. It made a huge difference for girls and women in college.

What were Patsy T. Mink鈥檚 ties to 糖心Vlog官方 and Hawaiʻi that should be highlighted and/or shaped who she was?

She had a lot of ties to 糖心Vlog官方. She graduated from here with degrees in zoology and chemistry, sent her daughter to the 糖心Vlog官方 Lab School, taught here for a while between her two sets of terms in the Congress. And I think she had an enduring loyalty. She thought the people of Hawaiʻi and the women of the country were her constituents.

A special quarter celebrating the life and legacy of Patsy Takemoto Mink, a distinguished University of Hawaiʻi alumna, is from the U.S. Mint, and began shipping on March 25. An event announcing the release and honoring the former U.S. Congresswoman and Title IX champion was held at the Stan Sheriff Center at the University of Hawaiʻi at M膩noa.

The quarter design depicts Mink holding her landmark Title IX legislation, which prohibits educational institutions from discriminating on the basis of sex in any way, and wearing a lei representing her home state of Hawaiʻi. The U.S. Capitol Building is in the background.

“As the first woman of color to serve in Congress, Patsy Mink was a trailblazer who fought to ensure that generations of girls and women could have every opportunity men have,” said Sen. Mazie Hirono. “Congresswoman Mink鈥檚 legacy lives on through Title IX, the landmark legislation she authored to outlaw sex-based discrimination in education. As we work to build on the progress she made, I am proud to announce the launch of this quarter honoring Patsy and her legacy, so that people across our state and country can learn more about her life and contributions to the fight for social justice, equality and civil rights.”

Distinguished 糖心Vlog官方 alumna

Mink graduated from the University Hawaiʻi in 1948, with majors in zoology and chemistry. She was the first woman of color elected to Congress. Title IX, which she co-authored, was renamed the Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act following her death. 糖心Vlog官方 celebrated the 50th anniversary of Title IX in 2022.

“All of us at the University of Hawaiʻi are beyond proud and grateful to have been part of the important work of Patsy Takemoto Mink and to be able to celebrate this milestone honoring her today. Patsy is a distinguished 糖心Vlog官方 alumna who left a lasting legacy to the world with the enactment of Title IX,” said 糖心Vlog官方 President David Lassner. “糖心Vlog官方 stands fully committed to the values of equity, inclusion, and justice that are championed through what is now known as the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act. We stand fully committed to the hard work we know is needed by all of us to create a future free from all forms of sex discrimination and that provides equal opportunity and access to education for all.”

Enduring legacy

The Patsy Takemoto Mink quarter is the 12th coin in the U. S. Mint鈥檚 , which celebrates the accomplishments and contributions made by women who have shaped our nation鈥檚 history and helped pave the way for generations that followed.

“The release of Patsy Mink鈥檚 quarter serves as a reminder for us to continue to fight for gender equity,” said 糖心Vlog官方 M膩noa student Ashley Badis. “It is thanks to Title IX that myself and other women have been able to carry on her legacy.”

The National Women鈥檚 History Museum, the Smithsonian American Women鈥檚 History Museum and the U.S. Mint will celebrate Mink and the release of her quarter at an , which is free and open to the public.

Patsy Dung, the 鈥檚 first head coach, died on March 4, at age 87, leaving a legacy that extends far beyond the court.

A pioneer in advancing women鈥檚 sports in Hawaiʻi, Dung was hired by 糖心Vlog官方 women鈥檚 athletic director Donnis Thompson in 1974 to lead the university鈥檚 newly established women鈥檚 basketball program. She coached the team while also serving as a physical education teacher at Farrington High School and led the inaugural Rainbow Wahine squad to a 4-2 record in the 1974–75 season. She spent five years as 糖心Vlog官方 head coach, with the schedule growing each season from six games to 17 in the 1978–79 season. The Rainbow Wahine went 11-6 in her final season and Dung closed her tenure with a cumulative record of 31-20.

Following her 糖心Vlog官方 career, Dung continued to teach at Farrington until her retirement in 1993. In addition, she founded the Kalihi Jets, a community club team which provided girls and women the opportunity to play organized team sports.

Services for Dung are pending.

“Patsy Dung was a trailblazer,” said current Rainbow Wahine Head Coach Laura Beeman. “She opened up opportunities for every coach who followed in her footsteps. The Rainbow Wahine Basketball program is where it is today because of her commitment years ago. We want to send our love and support to her family in this very difficult time.”

“Right up until recently, Patsy attended all the games, still supporting the program,” said former Rainbow Wahine Head Coach Vince Goo. “When I was coaching, she sat in the same section, same seat and always had a smile on her face when we won. All of the successes we had and all of the success Laura Beeman is having, can be attributed directly to Patsy. She started it all way back when. 鈥he was always a positive person and I enjoyed our many conversations about the game of basketball. She will be sorely missed.”

“Without her sacrifices and her willingness to coach the Wahine team from 5:30 after a long day teaching at Farrington, so many of us may not have had the opportunity to play on the Wahine Basketball team after Title IX,” said Sabrina McKenna, Hawaiʻi Supreme Court judge and former Rainbow Wahine player. “But Coach Dung taught me about much more than basketball; to me, she exemplified leadership and justice.”

For more reaction following Dung鈥檚 passing, .

A webinar series titled will examine barriers to and successes in advancing equity with multiple events is set to begin on February 27 and run through May 1. Open to all 糖心Vlog官方 students, faculty and staff, the webinar topics include:

• Know More, Do More: Recognizing and Responding to Stalking—February 27, 2 p.m
• Māhū and Decolonizing the Idea of Gender—March 6, 10 a.m
• Managing Microaggressions—March 27, 10 a.m
• Who Run the World? Beyonc茅, Taylor Swift, and Female Economic Power—May 1, 3 p.m.

In addition, the 糖心Vlog官方 Commission on the Status of Women will host a week-long series of webinars starting on April 4, Wāhine Mana: Empowering the Women of 糖心Vlog官方. The topics of female empowerment include: obstacles faced, lessons learned and successes won.

“We each come to 糖心Vlog官方 with our own experiences, perspectives and identities, and we are committed to fostering a community where those differences are respected and celebrated as we learn and grow together,” said 糖心Vlog官方 President David Lassner in a February 20 email to the 10-campus system on the webinar series. “Consistent with this commitment, the spring webinar series will share critical skills to help attendees identify inequity and create inclusive spaces.”

To learn more about the series, register for webinars and for information on in-person events on 糖心Vlog官方 campuses, visit the . The webinar series explores difficult subjects. If you or someone you know needs support, help is available, including confidential help.

The series is offered in collaboration with the Office of the Vice President for Community Colleges System Office of Compliance, 糖心Vlog官方 EEO/AA and Title IX Offices, PAU Violence, Queerify, the Office of Equity Assurance, and the 糖心Vlog官方 Commission on the Status of Women.

糖心Vlog官方 is committed to maintaining and promoting safe and respectful campus environments free from discrimination, harassment, and violence and offers a wide array of resources, including confidential advocates and mental health counselors, for those impacted by intimate partner violence, stalking, or sexual violence. 糖心Vlog官方 EEO/AA Offices address issues relating to discrimination or harassment based on race, religion, disability, and other protected characteristics.

The majority of University of Hawaiʻi students feel safe from sexual harassment and gender based violence when on campus, according to the 2023 Sex Based Discrimination and Harassment Student Survey. The biennial survey of 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 10 campuses also found that dating or domestic violence is still the most common form of harassment/violence and that awareness of on-campus services and resources has increased dramatically since the first survey seven years ago.

Of 38,286 adult students attending 糖心Vlog官方 campuses, 14.1% (5,398 students) completed the 20-minute long survey in early 2023 on campus environment, prevalence of sexual assault and violence, campus response and awareness of resources and reporting options.

The individual outcomes from each of the 10 campuses are available in the final survey results. In the aggregate, more than 63.4% of 糖心Vlog官方 students feel safe when on campus, up from 57.5% from the first survey in 2017, considered the benchmark survey of the four surveys completed. The 2023 survey found 57% of students were aware of services and resources, a substantial increase from 40% in 2017. Furthermore, 57.8% of students rated the training 糖心Vlog官方 offered “extremely or very useful” compared to 50.7% in 2017.

“We have work ahead on our paths to create campus environments free of harassment and violence so our students can fully focus on their education,” said 糖心Vlog官方 President David Lassner. “We will continue to build on what we have accomplished in the last 10 years including the expansion of services like confidential resources, and greater awareness of those services. I am especially heartened that the 2023 survey shows that our students have greater trust in 糖心Vlog官方 today compared to our first survey seven years ago.”

Survey results

Reports of sexual harassment and gender based violence are down slightly in 2023 compared to the 2019 and 2017 surveys (the 2021 survey results were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic as the vast majority of courses were offered online, and most employees were teleworking). Students are asked about their experiences while enrolled, including incidents unrelated to their campus. According to the 2023 survey:

• Three of four specific areas edged down or held steady:
  • 10.2% of students reported dating or domestic violence (9.1% in 2021, 12.1% in 2019, 10.6% in 2017).
  • 5.5% reported stalking (3.6% in 2021, 6.1% in 2019, 6.0% in 2017).
  • 2.8% reported incidents of non-consensual sexual contact (1.3% in 2021, 2.9% in 2019, 2.8% in 2017).
• 7.8% reported sexual harassment (4.2% in 2021, 8.0% in 2019, 5.7% in 2017). The federal government expanded the examples of sexual harassment, which have been included in the 糖心Vlog官方 biennial surveys since 2019.
• Offenders associated with 糖心Vlog官方 decreased since 2017 (79.8% in 2023, 71.8% in 2021, 80.5% in 2019, 88.2% in 2017).

“The survey results provide important next steps for our campuses including targeted outreach to vulnerable populations and raising awareness and referrals to campus resources to better address dating and domestic violence,” said 糖心Vlog官方 Office of Equity Assurance Director Jenn Rose. “Hopefully, these survey results also shine a bright light on issues prevalent across our society, not just college campuses. Greater awareness is critical addressing sexual harassment and gender base violence.”

These surveys are a national best practice and an important tool in creating and maintaining a safe and discrimination-free learning and working environment.The biennial survey was identified as a priority by 糖心Vlog官方 in 2015 and mandated by the Hawaiʻi State Legislature in 2016 with the passage of Act 208. It has been administered every other year since 2017 with the first results released in 2018.

2018—Groundbreaking Sex Based Discrimination and Harassment Student Survey
2020—Results of student survey on sexual harassment, violence
2022—Students feel safer on 糖心Vlog官方 campuses, according to student survey

The survey is the responsibility of the 糖心Vlog官方 Office of Equity Assurance (OEA), whose duties include oversight of compliance with Title IX and the federal laws and for 糖心Vlog官方 M膩noa and the 10-campus 糖心Vlog官方 System. The survey was conducted by OmniTrak Group, Inc.

Student resources

There are several options available to students who may be victims of gender-based harassment or violence depending on the type of assistance needed.

On Campus

• 糖心Vlog官方 Counseling resources by campus
• Confidential Title IX Services for Survivors and Victims of Sexual Harassment and Gender-Based Violence
• Disability Services, including accommodations for individuals with learning, physical, psychiatric, and/or other disabilities
• Health Services

Off Campus

• For individuals experiencing sexual harassment or gender-based violence

For individuals experiencing food insecurity:

• 糖心Vlog官方 Student Basic Needs resources

For individuals with varying needs, including housing insecurity, child and family support, mental health and substance abuse:

• 糖心Vlog官方 Student Basic Needs resources