This week, the Committee on Sexual Misconduct (CSM) in United Student Government (USG) is hosting their bi-annual Week of Action. The week, which runs from Nov. 6 through Nov. 10, will feature several lectures and conclude with bracelet making.
CSM Co-Chair Eliza Collins, FCRH ’26, said that the goal of the week is to ignite change within the community and create a space for students to connect.
Collins said, “Each year, we host Week of Action to connect with our peers and increase visibility on campus about our committee and the issues for which we stand. Our goal is to provide a platform for peer education and invite students to participate in these events, which change our community for the better!”
This year, Week of Action opened with “The Clothesline Project.” Set on Edwards Parade, the event welcomes students to write messages of support to survivors of sexual misconduct. The messages are written on T-shirts and displayed across the lawn’s fence.
Other events that will be held throughout the week include the “Women’s Empowerment SpeakOut,” “Bystander Intervention Talk” and friendship bracelet making. This semester CSM is also hosting several new events.
Vice President of Health and Security and CSM Co-Chair Molly Ewing, FCRH ’25, has been a member of CSM since her freshman year. Ewing is proud to have helped plan another Week of Action.
Ewing said, “We try to have new events every semester while also sticking to some of our classics. Our ‘Do’s and Donuts of Healthy Dating & Safe Sex’ is one of the new events this semester. Our members were really inspired to have this event in particular because they noticed a lack of information and programming on safe sex practices and healthy relationships.”
Collins and Ewing both said they are very excited for CSM’s Thursday event, “Let’s Taco ‘Bout Consent.”
Collins said, “I’d say I’m most looking forward to the Bronx DA’s Let’s Taco ‘Bout Consent program! We’ll have free tacos and drinks, and the event is intended to increase visibility around the issue of consent on campus. The program will be presented by Brittany and Jamie — representatives from the Bronx DA’s Enough is Enough campaign, which advocates for survivors of gender-based violence.”
Ewing said that CSM is excited to work with the Bronx DA’s office. She said, “We have worked with Jamie before for other programming, and she is so incredibly amazing and knowledgeable!”
Collins added, “We could not be more excited to host Jamie and Brittany from the Bronx DA’s office this year. Jamie was involved with one of our events last year, and we were inspired to reach out to her and her colleagues to host their own event this year!”
Ewing said that CSM’s Week of Action is an important tradition for the Fordham community.
She said, “It is so incredibly important that CSM continues in our tradition of hosting our bi-annual Week of Action to raise awareness of issues on sexual misconduct and to show support for survivors in our community at Fordham. Generating visibility on these issues and giving a voice to those affected is an important step in reducing the stigma and creating a safe community and culture on campus.”
This week, CSM is set to host several more Week of Action events. For more information on the upcoming events this week and after, visit their Instagram page: @csm_fordhamusg or reach out to their email: [email protected].
All Fordham students are encouraged to attend the events.
