Students, faculty, staff, and post-doctoral fellows can receive individual support to assist them through the process of disclosing and exploring the impact of experiences, accessing support and resources, talking through options and decisions, and reporting to the University or law enforcement.
To learn more about resources and information about gender-based discrimination, harassment, sexual violence, interpersonal violence and stalking at UNC, please visit safe.unc.edu
About the GVSCs
The Gender Violence Services Coordinators (GVSCs) provide confidential support and advocacy for all students, faculty, staff, and post-doctoral fellows of all backgrounds and identities who have experienced or have been impacted by gender-based violence or harassment before or during their time at Carolina.
Cassidy Johnson and Holly Lovern serve as the GVSCs. All information disclosed within sessions is confidential and may not be revealed to anyone outside of the GVSCs without written permission.
Please note-Cassidy will be out on leave for the majority of the Fall 2018 semester.
GVSC Services
The GVSCs can provide the following services:
- Emotional support
- Assistance in understanding reporting options and navigating reporting processes
- Accompaniment to meetings and hearings
- Referrals to University and community resources
- Safety planning
- Assistance with requesting housing and academic accommodations
- Information and education for University and community groups
Please feel free to view and download our GVSC Resource Card with our contact information and services.
Types of gender-based violence and harassment
- Sexual assault or sexual violence
- Sexual exploitation
- Interpersonal violence (also known as Domestic Violence or Relationship Violence)—can be physical, verbal, emotional or psychological, or financial
- Sexual-or gender-based harassment
- Stalking
At UNC, discrimination and harassment based on age, color, creed, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and veteran status is prohibited.
For more information about UNC’s policy on gender-based violence and harassment, please see UNC’s Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment and Related Misconduct Including Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment, Sexual Violence, Interpersonal Violence and Stalking.
How to contact the GVSCs
The GVSCs are available to meet with students, faculty, staff, and post-doctoral fellows Monday-Friday 9 am-4 pm. You can contact us using any of the options below. While Cassidy is out on leave, please contact Holly directly. Once Cassidy is back from leave, this portion of the website will be updated with how to contact both GVSCs.
You may email Holly to set up an appointment. Holly will respond to your email within 48 hours or 2 business days.
*Please note: Email is not a secure method of communication, and confidentiality cannot be ensured by email communication. You do not need to disclose any sensitive information about your experience via email in order to contact the GVSCs or schedule a time to meet.
Phone (Monday-Friday 9am-4 pm only)
Holly: 919-962-7430
If Holly is unable to answer, feel free to leave a voicemail if you’re comfortable doing so and Holly will return your call as soon as possible.
Drop-in Hours (Can stop by with no appointment)
Drop-in hours follow the University academic calendar and only occur when Fall and Spring classes are in session. No drop-in hours on University holidays. *Drop-in hours for Fall 2018 begin when classes start. You can still call or email Holly to set up a time to meet before then!
- Mondays 1-4 pm in Koury Residence Hall room 173 *First Fall drop-in 8/27; no drop-in on 9/3 (Labor Day, University closed)
- 1st and 3rd Thursdays 3-5 pm in the LGBTQ Center (Suite 3308 in SASB South) *First Fall drop-in 9/6
If you need help after business hours or over the weekend, you have the following options:
- Call 911
- Call UNC Police Department (UNCPD) at 919-962-8100 (you can also ask for the on-call Dean of Students through UNCPD)
- Go to the UNC Hospitals Emergency Department
- Contact your RA in your Residence Hall
- Call Orange Country Rape Crisis Center (OCRCC) at 866-WE-LISTEN (24/7 helpline and resources for survivors of sexual violence) *Confidential resource
- Call Compass Center at 919-929-7122 (24/7 helpline for survivors of relationship/domestic violence) *Confidential resource
- Safe at UNC website: http://safe.unc.edu/help-for-yourself/
Initial Meeting
During a first meeting with the GVSCs, we will talk about what the GVSC role is and what kinds of help and support we can offer. We’ll also talk about what our confidentiality means. From that point on, it’s really up to each individual and what they want to talk about. We can answer questions, talk through concerns, and make referrals to other resources. Individuals can meet with us as many times as they would like. There is no fee to meet with the GVSCs. The GVSC offices are in the Carolina Women’s Center in suite 101 of the Stone Center. We are happy to meet with individuals in our office, or anywhere on campus that is most comfortable for them.
We can talk about:
- Your experience
- The impact of your experience
- Safety
- Self-care
- Reporting processes
- Resources and support available on campus and in the community
- Support and accommodations you may need or want (Academic, housing, etc.)
At the end of our meeting, we can talk about “next steps” if there is something an individual wants or needs moving forward. The GVSCs can create a plan for follow up with the individual if they are comfortable with that and it’s helpful for them.
Confidentiality
All information you share with the Cassidy or Holly cannot be shared with others outside of the GVSCs. If you would like us to make a referral or connect you to another resource on campus or in the local community, you will need to sign a release of information form to have information shared with that resource. More information about the confidentiality of the GVSCs can be found on page 4 of UNC’s Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment and Related Misconduct Including Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment, Sexual Violence, Interpersonal Violence and Stalking.
UNC Survivor’s Assistance Fund
Many students who experience sexual violence are afraid to seek medical assistance because they lack insurance or they fear that it will show up on their parent’s insurance and prefer not to disclose the incident to them. Any medical treatment that a student survivor receives at either Campus Health Services (CHS) or UNC Hospitals Emergency Department may be paid for directly, by their own insurance, or by the Survivor’s Assistance Fund (renamed from the Victim’s Assistance Fund in 2013 by Student Congress). The charges for health care and services rendered are handled in a confidential manner. These funds are available to any survivor who is eligible for health care services at Campus Health Services, including undergraduate and graduate students, Post Doctoral fellows, and spouses of these individuals. This fund covers eligible medical procedures/treatments, mental health visits, medication prescribed, and specialty services if indicated.
For more information about the fund, please click here.
To donate to the fund, you can make a donation by credit card, check, pledge, bank draft, or payroll deduction to the Survivor’s Assistance Fund. To donate, please visit the Carolina Development website and select “Survivor’s Assistance Fund” or Fund #6378.