Mandatory sexual violence training email at El Camino go unopened by some students

By Heather Austin • December 4, 2025

El Camino College accounting major Vivian Truong, 18, takes her pepper spray out of her backpack. Her parents make her take it to school, she said. (Oriana de Quay | the Union)

El Camino College students are required to annually complete sexual violence awareness training, beginning Sept. 1, 2024, according to California law.

All students receive an email from Keenan SafeColleges, which attaches the link to the training course.

“The training is actually mandatory,” Director of Title IX and Equal Employment Opportunities Compliance at ECC Jayne Ishikawa said.

Ishikawa went on to say that the training is assigned to each student, and that anybody can take it whenever, but it must be completed in a certain amount of time.

California community college students must take sexual violence awareness training six months from the start of the academic year, according to Assembly Bill 2683, which became law in September 2022.

Colleges can allow students to “self-certify” their completion of the training, according to the law.

ECC employees are also required to take the sexual violence awareness training, in addition to completing sexual harassment training every two years, according to the college’s 2025 Annual Security Report.

El Camino College Chief of Police Matthew Vander Horck holds self defense devicein his office at the ECC Police Station on Tuesday, Nov. 11. The company is called "She&squot;s Birdie" which is designed by women for women. In the event of an assault it lets out an alarming sound and flashing light. (Oriana de Quay | The Union) — El Camino College Chief of Police Matthew Vander Horck holds a self-defense device in his office at the ECC Campus Police Station on Tuesday, Nov. 11. The company is called “She’s Birdie” which is designed by women for women. In the event of an assault it lets out an alarming sound and a flashing light. (Oriana de Quay | The Union)

However, opinion is split on whether the training should be mandatory for students to complete as there are no penalties for not completing the training.

Some students may have seen Keenan SafeColleges’ email in their inboxes and choose not to take the training, while others think it is important.

Business major Sheriff Abdraheem, 18, said that he didn’t see the sexual violence training in his email but added that he thinks “it should be mandatory.”

Film and video major Laura Vallejos, 23, was unaware of the sexual violence training link being emailed to ECC students.

“I don’t see it in my email,” Vallejos said.

She believes more could be done to make students more aware of the training, such as having an orientation or group meetings to talk about the training and to share their thoughts.

Psychology major Daniya Khan, 18, said that flyers should be posted around campus and the college should arrange activities to make students more aware of the training.

“I’ve been studying so much that I don’t have time to look through my emails,” Khan said.

ECC’s Title IX and EEO Compliance Office has an advisory committee which students can attend and share their thoughts about how to make the sexual violence awareness training more visible.

Ishikawa said the advisory committee does not have a set meeting time due to varying schedules but recommends anyone interested in attending a meeting to reach out to her office.

“We’re always looking to work with students and… anybody, who’s interested,” Ishikawa said.

If you are having problems accessing the sexual violence awareness training or want to attend advisory meetings, contact Jayne Ishikawa at [email protected].

Editor’s note: