Christopher Morrin joins St. Joe’s Office of Student Outreach and Support
When Christopher Morrin, St. Joe’s first sexual misconduct prevention specialist, was in college himself at Lehigh University, he joined a sexual violence peer education group.
“I am not a survivor, but it is a social justice and human rights issue,” said Morrin, who graduated in 2008 with a degree in political science and German. “It is not okay that this happens and it needs addressing.”
A native of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Morrin will have a chance to do just that in his new position at St. Joe’s, created in the Office of Student Outreach and Support under Director Marci Berney after St. Joe’s was awarded a grant by the Department of Justice’s Office of Violence Against Women.
The three-year, $300,000 grant will allow St. Joe’s to have a more comprehensive education and prevention apparatus in conjunction with the Title IX office, student organizations such as Rape Education and Prevention Program (REPP) and the Office of Student Life.
“Marci and Chris are guiding us through a strategic plan for the grant, operationalizing all of our plans,” said Mary-Elaine Perry, Ed.D, Title IX and Bias coordinator.
Gabby Southworth ’19, student activist and member of REPP, said she thinks there are “pros and cons” to having a male in Morrin’s position. Ultimately, she said she was won over by Morrin’s enthusiasm.
“Chris’ passion in this issue is evident and I think we can really get through to men,” Southworth said.
Sexual misconduct is a form of violence predominantly, though not exclusively, perpetrated by men against women, Morrin said, which is why he feels it is so important for men to step up and “fulfill our humanity by getting involved and stopping this.”
On Oct. 11, Jackson Katz, Ph.D, will deliver a lecture on campus about men’s role in ending violence against women. The speech is part of a statewide It’s On Us campaign, focusing on men’s role in preventing misconduct as well as a concerted effort on campus to bring men and women together against sexual violence.
Morrin comes into this role on Hawk Hill with experience. He previously held a similar position at Saint Lawrence University in Canton, New York. Following his tenure at Saint Lawrence, Morrin went downstate to get involved in national politics, working for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney.
While Morrin said he enjoyed working in politics, so much emphasis on fundraising led him to make a change to a career more directly oriented to the social change he said he hopes to see.
“There is a lot of pressure to get a job, make money, stuff like that, but I couldn’t deny anymore that is not who I am,” Morrin said.
With St. Joe’s, Morrin said he has found a place where people are working to live up to their ideals.
“While many colleges say they care about inclusion and helping people, St. Joe’s actually does it,” Morrin said.
Now that Morrin is here, he said he hopes to see a stronger culture against sexual misconduct in the future, utilizing bystander prevention programs such as the Green Dot prevention program, which he plans to roll out on campus next year.
“We’re focused on changing behaviors, not just beliefs and then it just becomes something that we do,” Morrin said. “This is just what we do at St. Joe’s. Look out for your fellow Hawks.”
Southworth said she believes campus culture is improving, but there is still a long way to go.
“These survivors and perpetrators are our peers and our classmates,” Southworth said. “We should all care.”
Morrin said he hopes many more initiatives will soon be underway on campus and is optimistic the grant will afford St. Joe’s further opportunities moving forward.
“I want everyone in the St. Joe’s community to know that we care about this and we are working 24/7 to tackle these things,” Morrin said.
