Kaitlyn Kylus (She/Her)

Kaitlyn is a senior Social Work major and is a student staff member at the Women’s Center

Content Warning: Sexual Assault 

A note on the word survivor: I will be using the words “survivor”, “victim”, and “accuser” interchangeably in this post. It is always up to the person affected to decide how they feel most comfortable identifying themselves, and the words they chose to describe themselves should always be respected.

So, your fave has been accused of sexual assault. 

You know the drill by now. Your favorite celebrity’s name is trending on Twitter. You hold your breath as you click on the topic. Did they say something racist? Transphobic? Is it just their birthday? Yet again, you are greeted with the all too familiar tweet,

 “[insert celebrities name here] accused of sexual assault.” 

So, let’s talk about it. What’s the right thing to do when your favorite celebrity is accused? Let’s examine what I personally have seen as the three most common reactions.

While this is upsetting for anyone to hear about, it can be especially heartbreaking for survivors of sexual violence. Many survivors already have trouble trusting anyone, so knowing that even the actors/musicians/comedians we like are actually perpetrators makes even just enjoying different forms of media feel unsafe. What if we’re unknowingly supporting someone heinous? And, seeing the world respond to the accusations can often reflect what happened in a survivor’s own life. 

1) You don’t believe the accuser.

As the vice-president of We Believe You (a student org that supports survivors and advocates for an end to rape culture), it isn’t surprising that my view of this position is a negative one. I know that it is painful to acknowledge that someone you loved has done something awful. The truth is, you can never truly know a public figure. What you see is what they want you to see, a carefully curated version of themselves. It’s impossible to know what they do behind closed doors. So, the argument that they would never do something like this is a flawed one. 

If you think that people falsely accuse celebrities for selfish motives, to get ahead in their careers, or get social media attention, think a little harder. Can you name the women who accused Louis C.K? How many of Bill Cosby’s victims can you name? Think about what happened to Dr. Christine Blasey Ford when she testified against Brett Kavanaugh in a senate hearing. She had to move away and hire a security team because of the threats against her. On a smaller scale, you can just read the comments under any news article. There is no shortage of vitriol towards the survivor. There is nothing to gain from a false accusation, which is why they are so rare. 

Poet Rhiannon McGavin, in response to a reckoning in 2014 of multiple sexual abuse allegations against famous youtubers, said this: 

“You can never do wrong by believing the victim. Even if, against all odds, their accusations are false, all YOU did as the bystander was believe a vulnerable person.”

The Women’s Center has a supporting survivors workshop that explains best practices for supporting a survivor in your own life. One of the most important takeaways is the value in believing survivors.

“Sexual violence is severely underreported because survivors feel that they will be disbelieved or doubted. Believe them unconditionally and tell them so; people rarely make up stories of sexual assault, rape, or abuse. It is not necessary for you to decide if they were “really hurt” or if it “really happened that way.” Don’t try to excuse the abuser’s behavior, don’t play devil’s advocate, and don’t try to minimize or explain away the survivor’s experience. It’s invaluable for survivors to hear “I believe you and I’m here for you.”

Remember that you are not an investigator. It is not your job to prove in a court of law that the accuser is telling the truth. The most important role you can play is to believe the survivor, which then empowers others to come forward and be believed. The devil doesn’t need an advocate, and there will already be a shocking amount of harsh words and threats against a survivor who accuses a celebrity. Don’t be a part of the reason that more victims are silenced. 

2) You believe the accuser, but think that you can separate the art from the artist.

Maybe you think the survivor is telling the truth, but you just really love SWMRS music. Can’t you listen to it anyway? Why stop wearing their merch, it’s so comfy! Sure, you can try to separate the art from the artist, but all creators put a piece of themselves into their art. Do you really feel okay listening to someone sing about their thoughts and feelings knowing that they are an abuser? Their willingness to assault or abuse someone factors into what they say and what they feel. Not to mention that when you’re giving them money, they don’t care that you’re separating their art from them. There is no material difference when that money goes into their pocket.  

It’s also important to consider the impact that your support has on others. Even if you do believe the victim, that’s not what you are portraying to the world. When they see you wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with the name of a known abuser, what are you saying? Whether you mean to or not, you’re saying that abuse is not a deal breaker. When you financially support an abuser by buying their merch or music or seeing their new movie, what impact does that have on their victim? Practice some empathy here. Imagine how you would feel if someone assaulted you and a friend said “I believe you, but I’m still going to give them money and publicly show my support for their art anyway. But don’t worry, I’m separating the art from the artist.” 

While this may be a thought provoking exercise for you, it is the reality of many survivors who see their abusers continue to thrive. I am asking that you care about other people. Giving up a band or a comedy special is worth it to protect a vulnerable person. If you truly support and believe them, your actions should reflect that. 

3) You believe the accuser, and no longer support the accused.

I believe this is the best option. Yes, it sucks. But it sucks way more to be a victim and see the world continue to celebrate your abuser. 

However, I do recognize that this isn’t as cut and dry as I sometimes wish. Where do we draw the line? Is anyone redeemable? Is it our place to decide? These are questions that I ask myself whenever I see a new accusation, and it’s something that I still grapple with. In the end, I think what matters most is how the survivor feels, and offering them your belief and your support. I care less about whether the accused still has fans, and more that the accuser is being supported however they most need it. I think for a lot of survivors, deplatforming their abuser is a large part of feeling supported. 

I can’t speak for everyone, but these things hold true in my own life. Watching abusers be praised is painful to me. Seeing abusers be supported reminds me of the ways that I was not. Of course, we are all capable of harming others, we are all going to do the wrong thing, and we all should face some consequences and learn from our mistakes. I just believe that there is some harm for which the appropriate consequence is to lose your public platform, especially if that platform is what facilitated the abuse in the first place. 

In a world where both of the top presidential candidates have been accused of sexual assault, it is clear that rape culture is pervasive. My heart is heavy for all the people who have not shared their story, for everyone who has to watch their abuser win an award or star in a movie or come up in the music industry. And of course, there is the more common occurrence: survivors everywhere have to watch their abuser graduate, get married, and have kids. Many of us will never get justice. Many of us still don’t quite know what justice would even look like.

This is messy, and there are no easy answers. But no matter what answer you arrive at, it is vital that we show all survivors the support that they deserve.

For information on sexual violence resources and support, click here.

Hey Political Science Students,

If you plan on graduating within the upcoming academic year, I want to make you aware of the Scoville Fellowship and application process. Please also be sure to check out the website and flyer attached to this post. 

Scoville Fellows are supervised by senior-level staff members at their host institutions and may work on a range of issues including nuclear and conventional arms control and nonproliferation, conflict prevention and peacebuilding, diplomacy, environmental security, and emerging technology threats. They contribute to their host organizations' goals through research, public education, advocacy, and by writing articles, blog posts, fact sheets, letters to the editor, op-eds, and/or reports. In addition, fellows often help organize talks and conferences and attend coalition meetings, policy briefings, and congressional hearings. Benefits of this fellowship include salary, basic health insurance compensation, mentoring, moving costs to DC, meetings with policy experts, a modest stipend for professional development purposes, and an entrée into an increasingly influential network of alumni working for domestic and international NGOs, the federal government, academia, and media.

Effective October 5, 2020, the National Science Foundation (NSF) will begin enforcing the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 20-1) requirement to use NSF-approved formats for the preparation of the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support proposal documents. The NSF-approved formats are SciENcv: Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae and an NSF fillable PDF.

All other PAPPG (NSF 20-1) changes were effective on June 1, 2020. Please refer to the complete list of PAPPG (NSF 20-1) significant changes and clarifications which include the IT system changes and other policy-related changes. A set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on proposal preparation and award administration related to NSF PAPPG (NSF 20-1) is also available and includes Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support information.

Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support Websites

·  The NSF Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support websites include links to the NSF-fillable PDF formats, updated FAQs, and instructions.

·  For the fillable PDF formats, NSF recommends users download and save the blank PDF document prior to adding content. Populating content directly into a web browser (e.g., Chrome or Safari) may result in formatting inconsistencies. The completed and saved PDF can then be uploaded via FastLane, Research.gov, or Grants.gov.

·  Beginning on October 5, 2020, links to the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support websites will also be located in FastLane (on the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support Personnel pages), in Research.gov (on the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support Upload pages), and in Grants.gov (on the NSF Senior Key Person Profile form version 2.0).

Change of Principal Investigator (PI) and Add/Change Co-PI Requests

·  Effective October 5, 2020, Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support documentation must also be in an NSF-approved format when uploaded with a Change of PI and an Add/Change co-PI request in FastLane.

Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) Submissions with Active Other Support Changes

·  Effective October 5, 2020, PIs and co-PIs must include an NSF-approved format for Current and Pending Support when notifying NSF that active other support has changed since the award was made, or since the most recent annual report.

·  This new requirement serves as NSF’s implementation of the revised RPPR, a uniform format for reporting performance progress on Federally-funded research projects and research-related activities.

·  Further details about the RPPR can be found on the Research.gov About Project Reports website.

Automated Compliance Checks for NSF-approved Formats

·  Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support documents not in an NSF-approved format will trigger a compliance error and ultimately will prevent proposal submission or completion of the post-award action. This compliance check applies to proposals, Change of PI requests, Add/Change co-PI requests, and relevant RPPR submissions.

·  The complete lists of FastLane and Research.gov automated proposal compliance checks effective October 5, 2020, are available on the Automated Compliance Checking of NSF Proposals website.

·  Note that automated compliance checks also apply when a proposal file update (PFU) is performed on a proposal. Proposers should be aware that if a proposal was previously submitted successfully, a PFU performed on the proposal will be prevented from submission if the proposal does not comply with the compliance checks in effect at the time.

NSF-approved Format Updates

Based on feedback from the research community, NSF has enhanced both approved formats, and users are encouraged to use the latest versions. Please see the system-related FAQs on using SciENcv and the system-related FAQs on using the NSF fillable PDF for a list of the improvements to each format. In particular, note the permitted use of “et al.” for publication citations in the Biographical Sketch when listing multiple authors. Senior personnel who wish to include publications in the products section of the Biographical Sketch that include multiple authors may, at their discretion, choose to list one or more of the authors and then "et al." in lieu of including the complete listing of authors' names.

SciENcv Enhancements

The SciENcv module for creating NSF Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support documents will be updated prior to October 5, 2020; however, all SciENcv-generated Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support PDF documents created on or after April 1, 2020 remain compliant in NSF systems.

Prior to the October 5th requirement to use the NSF-approved format, SciENcv will make a number of enhancements that include:

·  ability for users to reorder products and appointments in the Biographical Sketch

·  ability for users to edit long author citations imported from ORCID on the Biographical Sketch and add “et al.”

·  addition of a Current and Pending Support tool tip to provide clarification and guidance on how users should document support under a fiscal year calendar

Please see the system-related FAQs on using SciENcv for details.

As a reminder, the SciENcv tool integrates with ORCID, enabling users to populate the Biographical Sketch by importing data directly from ORCID records rather than having to manually enter all the required information. This helps reduce administrative burden associated with the Biographical Sketch preparation process. Additionally, SciENcv allows users to grant access to delegates to assist with maintaining and updating data. SciENcv also offers users a dynamic and more customized PDF. For example, users with fewer Current and Pending Support entries may elect to use SciENcv to generate their Current and Pending Support PDF document since SciENcv will produce a PDF without any blank pages. Conversely, the Current and Pending Support fillable PDF will always be 15 pages regardless of how much data is included.

Latest NSF Fillable PDF Version

·  Revised NSF fillable PDF formats were released on May 1, 2020; however, the previous versions remain compliant in NSF systems.

·  The May 1, 2020 version is indicated by "Revised 05/01/2020" printed on the first page of each form.

Additional Training Resources

To learn more about the NSF-approved formats for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support, please view the NSF PAPPG (NSF 20-1) webinar and NSF-Approved Formats for the Biographical Sketch & Current and Pending Support Sections of NSF Proposals webinar.

SciENcv has created the following materials to guide NSF users through the preparation of the NSF documents available in SciENcv:

·  NSF Biographical Sketch Video Tutorial

·  NSF Current and Pending Support Video Tutorial

·  NSF-specific Bookshelf Resource (includes screenshots and step-by-step instructions)

Other Updates for Proposers

A revised NSF Grants.gov Application Guide will be published on September 16th and effective October 5, 2020. The Guide will be updated to remove references and instructions for the Research & Related Personal Data Form. NSF will no longer require this form, and this form will no longer be included in NSF's packages effective October 5, 2020.

Questions? Policy-related questions should be directed to policy@nsf.gov. If you have IT system-related or technical questions regarding the SciENcv or NSF fillable PDF formats, please contact the NSF Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188 (7:00 AM - 9:00 PM ET; Monday - Friday except federal holidays) or via fastlane@nsf.gov.

Hey Political Science Students,

I wanted to make you aware of the following opportunity regarding a virtual FBI Recruiting event. Please see the information below if you are interested.

When: Tuesday, September 15, 2020 · 3 PM - 4 PM

How: Visit MyUMBC and Join The Session HERE

Even if you are not FBI ready yet, come to this session and learn what it would take to get there. It never hurts to plan ahead for the right job. Also, the FBI hires students from many majors so come explore the possibilities. 

The FBI has a wide variety of career paths for individuals from all backgrounds and experiences. Explore the options below to start a career like no other with the FBI.

HONORS INTERNSHIP

If you’re a college undergrad or graduate pursuing a JD, MBA, MD or PhD and are looking to expand your knowledge and skills in public service, the FBI Honors Internship Program is just the ticket. Work alongside FBI employees at all levels to gain a hands-on experience that combines law enforcement with national security and intelligence. The application cycle runs August 21 to September 30.

THE FBI VALUES DIVERSITY

“The culture is family here. We take care of one another. We understand one another even though we’re from different walks of life and different cultural backgrounds.” — Asst. Special Agent in Charge of the Criminal Enterprise Branch

Arifat Ola-Dauda (She/Her)

Hello Everyone, my name is Arifat Ola-Dauda. I am a double major in Social Work and Political Science here at UMBC. I’ll be working in the women’s center this year for my Social Work field Placement. I am very passionate about social justice, and the issues that are currently affecting America’s minorities. When I am not doing schoolwork or with the women’s center, you will find me reading a book or on Netflix. Looking forward to a great year with everyone, despite the current circumstances. 

Kaitlyn Kylus (She/Her)

Hello! My name is Kaitlyn and I’m a Senior majoring in Social Work with a minor in Psychology. Hopefully I will be continuing on to grad school next year at UMB School of Social Work. I’m passionate about supporting survivors of sexual and power based violence, and am the current Vice President of We Believe You. I’m super excited to be working at the Women’s Center again this year and can’t wait to meet you all!

Some fun facts about me are that I’m a pisces sun with a libra moon and rising, but I only kinda know what that means. In my spare time you can catch me embroidering, re-reading books I loved in middle school, or taking a nap. 

Nandi Cook-Creek (She/Her)

Hi! My name is Nandi. I am a Senior English major and student staff member here at the Women’s Center. I’ll be co-facilitating our Women of Color Collective and We Believe You discussion groups, and I love being in community with you all more than anything at UMBC!

In my free time I like writing poetry, drinking tea, and watching anything animated. 

Carol Canales (She/Her)

Hi everyone! My name is Carol and I am currently a senior majoring in Financial Economics with a minor in Political Science. This is my first year as a Women’s Center Staff member, and I am very excited to build relationships with so many communities! 

I am also a member of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. and We Believe You on campus. On a personal note, I love going on nature walks, playing volleyball, sketching and journaling. My favorite shows to watch range from HGTV shows to the Avatar franchise. During my time at the Women’s Center, I hope to empower women of all backgrounds by working on the Women of Color Coalition programs. I’m excited to develop my skills and knowledge while working at such an awesome place. I cannot wait to work more closely with students, faculty, and the WC team.

Autumn Cook (She/They)

Hey, everyone! I am a senior Meyerhoff Scholar (M29), Honors College member pursuing a BS in Chemistry and a BA in Gender, Women and Sexuality studies and currently a student staff member at the Women’s Center. After I graduate, I hope to pursue a PhD in inorganic chemistry and materials science and become the first transgender person in space! This semester, I will be co-facilitating Spectrum, the Women’s Center’s discussion group for transgender and nonbinary individuals. While I am not working, I enjoy playing ultimate, spending time enjoying video games, and creating cosplays using my 3D printers.  

Sandra Crespin-Melgar (She/Her)

Hello! My name is Sandra and I am a senior majoring in Social Work with a minor is Psychology. I am also a Returning Woman Scholar and the President for Phi Alpha National Social Work Honor Society at the UMBC-Shady Grove Campus. This academic year, I am thrilled to be a student staff intern completing my field placement at the Women’s Center. I will be assisting with the Returning Women Scholars & Affiliates Program! As an adult learner, I have learned the importance of creating and cultivating relationships with students and staff members. Therefore, I cannot wait to “meet” everyone this year!

Other fun facts:

I love sloths!

I have a shih tzu named Luna.

I love crime podcasts/shows.

I am bi-bilingual (English and Spanish).

I am a first-generation college student/adult learner.

I am also vegetarian/vegan (I love animals!).

My ultimate favorite shows are Avatar: The Last Airbender & Legend of Korra (I also love the comics and novels).