Listen to ASM’s Anti-Violence Chair Landis Varughese speak about the role that was created to serve as a liaison between students and campus decision-makers around sexual violence prevention.

Trancript:

Hello, my name is Landis Varughese, I use he/him pronouns and I serve as the anti-violence coordinator for the Associated Students of Madison: UW-Madison’s student government. In my role as AVC, I primarily serve as a liaison between students and campus partners surrounding restorative security measures for our campus. Although I am the second person to ever hold this role, I have learned so much about the importance of activism when it comes to prevention sexual violence on college campuses.  

I’ve found that coalition building is paramount to any future in which campus sexual violence’s impact is nullified. When you are working alongside like minded individuals, who are just as passionate about creating the change that you wish to see in the world as you are — anything is truly possible. For me, helping lead the Student Title IX Advisory Board (STIXA) has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my time on UW-Madison’s campus. Working with fifteen students who are emboldened to create change to the culture that enables sexual violence and raise awareness of the Title IX regulations and procedures for students in need of navigating this process. Understanding that these relationships we build with other student leaders are truly unique in the sense that we share a common objective or objectives. We learn from each other, build each other up, and support each other in our collective efforts. We celebrate our victories, sit with our losses, but more importantly continue to fight the good fight because that will take us into a future where sexual violence is no longer an issue facing college campuses.  

I’m forever grateful to be in the position that I am in, to be in close proximity to key decision makers and professionals, while also being in community with students. The nature of my role necessitates that I work with folks from all over campus to relinquish the power that violence has had, and this is something that I don’t take lightly. It’s also important for me to note that the work is not easy, and the losses column can fill up quite quickly — but the very nature of this work and the people I work with is the greatest victory for me. Having allies from different walks of life, and roles and responsibilities on this campus inspires me continue to push the envelope in campus sexual violence activism. It takes a village, or rather an entire campus, to push back against campus sexual violence, and I cannot wait to see this kind of coalition and community building continue to flourish until we never have to worry about this problem again.