As part of the University’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month activities, University Compliance Services and the University Student Center Complex invite members of the UM community to wear jeans on Denim Day, Wednesday, April 26, when supporters of the global rape prevention education campaign take a stand against destructive assumptions about sexual assault.

Established by Peace Over Violence, the Denim Day campaign was triggered by a 1999 Italian Supreme Court ruling that overturned a rape conviction because the justices believed the victim must have helped her assailant remove her tight jeans, thereby implying her consent. The day after the ruling, women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim.

Participating UM students, faculty, and staff in all locations are encouraged to register for Denim Day at UMiami at https://tinyurl.com/2017denimdayumiami and take the Denim Day promise—to uphold four actions to engage, connect, and take leadership on this issue through social media and in-person meetups at their locations.

The Denim Day Conversation on the Coral Gables campus will take place at the Lakeside Patio Stage on April 26 at 3 p.m. For more information, email [email protected].

Bonnie M. Muschett

Special to UM News

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (January 3, 2017)—Bonnie M. Muschett, an attorney and certified compliance and ethics professional, has joined University Compliance Services (UCS) as director of compliance and Title IX coordinator.

Muschett comes to the University of Miami from the University of Maryland-Baltimore where she had served as director of compliance and engagement and university Title IX coordinator since 2014.

Prior to her promotion to Title IX Coordinator at the University of Maryland, she worked in the compliance office where she conducted investigations and developed and delivered compliance training, among other duties. She is currently developing greater expertise in adult education and training as she pursues a graduate certificate in Instructional Systems Development. In addition to her responsibilities as Title IX coordinator, Muschett will lead the coordination of UM’s Clery Act compliance program and oversee a program for the protection of minors on University campuses.

Muschett will serve as the University of Miami’s central resource on all issues related to Title IX compliance and will work closely with deputy Title IX coordinators across all University campuses to help educate, train, and support community members. In this capacity, she will lead efforts to ensure that the University has effective programs and processes in place for students, faculty, and staff who are affected by sexual harassment, discrimination, or violence, and implement policies and practices that are prompt, equitable, and in compliance with applicable law and regulations, including Title IX.

Muschett also will work closely with the UM Police Department to coordinate compliance with the Clery Act as it has been amended by the Violence against Women’s Act (VAWA) and the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination (SaVE) Act. In her oversight role to protect minors on campus, Muschett will coordinate the review of campus activities that may involve minors and will lead efforts to develop policies and procedures that maximize their safety and minimize their risk of harm on University campuses.

Effective June 1, the Title IX coordinator reports to Rudolph Green, the vice president and chief compliance officer in University Compliance Services. Doug Horr has been designated the interim Title IX coordinator and as such will serve as the central resource for the University on all issues related to Title IX, and will work closely with the deputy title IX coordinators to help educate, train, and support campus community members. He will coordinate and oversee compliance with Title IX statutory and regulatory requirement efforts. In addition, Horr will continue in his role as executive director of University Compliance Services.

Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in educational programs and activities at schools, colleges and universities receiving federal financial assistance. It has been commonly associated with the concept of gender equity in athletics—a goal that has supported the growth and strength of women’s athletics programs. Current interpretations indicate that Title IX is far broader in its scope and protections. Visit Title IX FAQs to learn more.