Courtesy of Shayna Marlowe
By James Bennett III
USF St. Petersburg is looking for a new victim advocate — again.
The position has seen a rotation of faces after Mandy Hines, who was hired in 2006, departed in June 2018. She was replaced later that month by Sara Spowart, who resigned in July 2018 due to health issues.
It took the Wellness Center nearly three months to hire Shayna Marlowe, Spowart’s replacement.
Marlowe’s last day on campus was Dec. 20, although she remained available through phone and email until Jan. 3. Marlowe was hired Dec. 10, 2018, at an annual salary of $48,000.
A victim advocate’s job is to provide information, community referrals, and crisis response to USF St. Petersburg students who may be victims of crime (i.e., date rape, assault, domestic violence).
In recent years, confronting gender-based crime has become a top priority on America’s college campuses.
Like other colleges and universities, USF St. Petersburg pledges that it will work to provide an environment free from sexual discrimination, sexual assault and harassment, and dating and domestic violence.
Professors are required to describe the university’s policy on gender-based crimes in their course syllabi, and professors and staff who learn about violations are required by law to report them.
In an email, the director of the Wellness Center and student disability services, Anita Sahgal, said Marlowe left to “pursue professional and personal goals.”
“While it saddens us to lose her, we wish her well in her future endeavors,” the email said.
The email did not specify whether the Wellness Center had begun the search for a replacement.
Sahgal added that the campus’ support structures, such as counseling services, student outreach and support services, and after-hours consultation services will remain available to students.
Sahgal also said students are able to access victim advocacy services through community agencies like CASA.
Anna Bryson and Emily Wunderlich contributed to this report.
