Prof. Jacobson López Expands on Campus Safety Model to Center LGBTQIA+ Students of Color
Daniel Jacobson López, an assistant professor at BU School of Social Work, expanded upon a new strategic model proposed by researchers at Michigan State University (MSU) to address and reduce relationship violence and sexual misconduct (RVSM) on college campuses. His commentary is published in the peer-reviewed journal Violence Against Women.
The model developed by MSU’s Dr. Campbell and colleagues aims to enhance campus safety for those affected by RVSM with a 5-year plan they call “Know More. Do More. Support More.” While they note that rates of RSVM are higher for LGBTQIA+ identifying students than their cisgender, heterosexual peers, Jacobson López takes their work a step further by providing specific recommendations on how institutions can address RVSM in a way that is inclusive to LGBTQIA+ students of color and that addresses the totality of their identities. He posits that incorporating this focus into MSU’s model can help all colleges and universities strengthen their RSVM prevention and response efforts.
The MSU researchers who developed the model recently published a follow-up paper highlighting several of Jacobson López’s proposals, including bridging the gap between the investigation and response to traumatic incidents; increasing campus climate survey participation in marginalized and minoritized populations; and centering qualitative evaluation methods. The authors also consider his concern that LGBTQIA+ students of color may experience different forms of sexual violence that aren’t addressed in prevention programs. They conclude that institutions of higher education shouldn’t try to build one-size-fits-all programming – and that preventing assault and caring for survivors are interrelated but distinct goals. By incorporating the nuanced and in-depth expertise or researchers like Jacobson López, they substantiate their claim that the plan must be built from a foundation that is both trauma-informed and intersectional.
Daniel Jacobson López, PhD conducts research on violence against gay Black and Latino men, sexual violence, and the intersection of public health and social work. He is a licensed clinical social worker and an anti-bias facilitator with the Anti-Defamation League, and is certified as a sexual assault counselor and art resolution therapist.