Round of Applause: BU’s Nathan Brewer to Cochair State Subcommittee on Sexual Assault on Campuses
Round of Applause: BU’s Nathan Brewer to Cochair State Subcommittee on Sexual Assault on Campuses
Appointed because of his experience addressing and preventing campus sexual assault
Awardee
Nathan Brewer
BU affiliation
Director, Student Health Services’ Survivor Advocacy, Response & Prevention (SARP)
What is the honor you received?
I’ve been appointed the cochair of the inaugural Subcommittee on Campus Violence for the Massachusetts Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, and Human Trafficking. The subcommittee’s mission is to ensure comprehensive sexual and domestic violence response and prevention within higher education settings, coordinate various stakeholders to reduce violence and improve survivor services, and assist in implementing the 2021 Campus Sexual Assault Law. Notably, Emily Rothman—who is the associate dean of strategic initiatives and chair of occupational therapy at Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences—currently serves on the council, as well.
Why did you receive the appointment?
Last summer, I copresented to the Governor’s Council on issues of sexual and domestic violence in higher education. This included the challenges posed by a rapidly changing policy landscape and work being done by a Massachusetts campus anti-violence consortium of prevention and response professionals. After our presentation, the council decided to create a new subcommittee to address issues specifically within higher education and appointed me as cochair.
Why is it meaningful to you?
Preventing campus violence and creating trauma-informed responses to survivors of violence has been a deep passion of mine. I have worked directly with survivors of violence for over 20 years, including at domestic violence shelters, at community-based agencies, and now as the director of SARP. It’s important to me that my efforts consider not just the individual needs of particular survivors, but also the challenges within broader systems. Working with the council is a unique opportunity to serve as a vocal representative of university stakeholders to improve campuses across the state.
What’s next for you?
The appointment is for two years, with the possibility of reappointment. My hope is to raise issues related to sexual and domestic violence on campus at the state level, to ultimately reduce rates of violence and improve survivor services. The council provides a unique opportunity to affect policy change by recommending new legislation and policy implementation through state agencies. It will also facilitate information sharing among anti-violence professionals in higher education, leading to recommendations for university best practices.