Handmade posters with messages reading “safety is not optional” and “your voice has power” lined the walls during Students Against Sexual Assault’s (SASA) “Solidarity Rally” on Nov. 19 in the Quiet Side of the Commons.
The “Solidarity Rally,” co-hosted by the Health and Counseling Center and several student-led clubs, was organized in response to recent reports of seven students and a recent alum allegedly being drugged at an off-campus party on Saturday Nov. 2, according to SASA’s Social Media Coordinator Miriam Hamtil.
“We wanted to do this event now because [of] the events that happened over Halloweekend and just in general, to show support,” Hamtil said. “We just wanted to make a statement.”
While the event was advertised as a rally, it was arranged as a forum with scheduled speakers, including Interpersonal Violence Prevention Programming Coordinator Erin Currie, Director of Campus Safety & Emergency Management Michael McNerney and Associated Students of the University of Portland (ASUP) President Aidan Sanchez.
According to McNerney, the investigation that prompted the rally is ongoing.
“We are still assessing facts, we're looking for additional information, and if we have someone provide us with evidence that brings forth a situation like that, then we will pursue it as far as possible,” McNerney said.
Director of Public Affairs Dan Christopherson, who is the main contact for inquiries related to the incident, confirmed in an email to The Beacon that the University has yet to receive any evidence related to the incident, including drug test results or witness statements.
During his speech, Sanchez encouraged students to use ASUP representatives to connect with the administration and voice any concerns regarding the safety of students on campus.
“I just also really want to reaffirm ASUP’s support for SASA’s mission of hearing, seeing and believing students,” Sanchez said. “We're resources for you — we're here to help you start those conversations, open those channels of communication with our administrators.”
Currie also took a moment to share information about on-campus resources regarding sexual assault and related issues, including Confidential Advocates, a new program that began at the Health and Counseling Center in the spring of 2024. The program allows survivors of sexual assault to seek assistance on campus without having it reported to Title IX.
“Together, we have the answers, and I want this to be a community involvement,” Currie said. “We can work to stop something if we're seeing something — we can work together to help people to have safe and healthy communication and relationship processes.”
For junior Andrea Kustic, the most impactful part of the rally was seeing so many students come together to show solidarity with one another after the alleged drugging incident.
“I'm feeling very empowered,” Kustic said. “I think it was very moving and very powerful to get to hear all the different people on campus and to hear some of the staff and faculty actually speak about it and support it.”
Students weren’t the only community members at the rally. At least two faculty members also attended to show their support.
Amy Ongiri, a professor of ethnic studies, felt distraught after learning about the alleged drugging incident from a student. They attended the event to hear about the University’s plans for addressing the situation.
“I was so shocked because I feel like we have such a beautiful community here,” Ongiri said. “How is this happening, and what are the circumstances that are allowing it to happen? And most importantly, how can we stop?”
While SASA did not directly speak during the panel, Co-President Reese Baker voiced support for the women who might have been victimized.
“We support you, we hear you with everything that has gone on, and we just want it to feel as safe as possible on this campus,” Baker said.
Anyone who may have information regarding the alleged drugging incident is encouraged to contact McNerney at renn@up.edu or 503.943.7161. Title IX-related resources can be found here.
Tiffany Marquez Escobar is the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Editor for The Beacon. She can be reached at marqueze25@up.edu.
Riley Martinez contributed to this story. He can be reached at martinri24@up.edu.
Kaylee Monahan contributed to this story. She can be reached at monahan26@up.edu.
