Sexual Violence Prevention at Star UniversityBy Erin Boyce, Katherine Himmelman & Lauren Zeutenhorst

Introduction

0We believe in the importance of reducing sexual violence on our college campus through the expansion and creation of comprehensive efforts that engage all members of the University community. These efforts will include the continual education of community members.

0The following presentation outlines the information on which recommendations are based as well as the actual recommendations for implementation on campus.

Overview

0National statistics on the prevalence of sexual assault

on college campuses

0Federal Legislation

0 Important sexual assault literature and implications

0Existing prevention models

0Our recommendations for the campus

What is Sexual Assault?

0 (n.) illegal sexual contact that usually involves force upon a person without consent or is inflicted upon a person who is incapable of giving consent (because of age, physical, or mental incapacity) or who places the assailant (as a doctor) in a position of trust or authority.

(“Sexual Assault." Merriam-Webster.com)

Why does this matter in higher education?

0 “Victims of sexual assault are more likely to suffer academically and from depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, to abuse alcohol and drugs, and to contemplate suicide.”

(U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, 2011)

Additional terms for consideration

0 Intimate partner violence

0Stalking

0Dating violence

0Sexual violence

0Domestic violence offenses

Statistics

0 In 2007, 3.9% of college women reported attempted or actual sexual penetration against their will0 10.6% reported sexual touching against their will0 1.9% reported a sexually abusive relationship

0College men also reported on the same statistics with 1.4% indicating attempted or actual sexual penetration against their will0 4.4% reported sexual touching against their will0 1.3% reported a sexually abusive relationship(American College Health Association, 2009)

According to an ACHA Preventing Sexual Violence Survey...

0When 297 respondents were asked “To what extent do you think your institution is effective in addressing the problem of sexual violence?” ONLY 11.8% said very effective

0When the same sample was asked “How familiar are you with Bystander Intervention techniques to address prevention of sexual violence?” 38.2% said they were not familiar at all

(American College Health Association, 2009)

Current Regulations for College Campuses

1. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights

2. Violence Against Women Act’s (VAWA)

Reauthorization

3. Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (SaVE)

4. Jeanne Clery Act

Department of Education Office of Civil Rights

0Title IX – 1972

0Dear Colleague Letter – issued in 2011

Violence Against Women Act’s (VAWA) Reauthorization

0Signed by President Obama on March 7, 20130Strengthened and reauthorized the Violence Against

Women Act (1994)0 Included in the bill was the Campus Sexual Violence

Elimination Act (Campus SaVE)0Amended the Jeanne Clery Act

Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (SaVE)

0 “The campus SaVE Act seeks to address the violence women face on campus: the highest rates of stalking, the highest risk of nonfatal intimate partner violence, and 20-25% of female students experiencing rape or attempted rape.”

Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (SaVE)

Goal: to compliment Title IX and update Jeanne Clery Act to generate….

0 Transparency0Accountability0Education0Collaboration

Jeanne Clery Act

0This landmark federal law “requires colleges and universities across the United States to disclose information about crime on and around their campus. The Law is tied to an institution’s participation in federal student financial aid programs and it applies to most institutions of higher education both public and private”

Jeanne Clery Act Requirements

0 Publish and Annual Security Report (ASR)0 To have a public crime log0 Disclose crime statistics for incidents that occur on campus, in

obstructed public areas adjacent to or running through the campus and at certain non campus facilities

0 Issue timely warnings about Clery Act crimes which pose a serious or ongoing threat to students and employees

0 Devise an emergency response, notification, and testing policy0 Compile and report fire data to the federal government and publish an

annual fire safety report0 Enact policies and procedures to handle reports of missing students

Jeanne Clery Act – 7 Major Categories of Crime Reporting

1. Criminal Homicide2. Sexual Offenses3. Robbery4. Aggravated Assault5. Burglary6. Motor Vehicle Theft7. Arson

Literature on Sexual Violence in Higher Education

0 American College Health Association:0 Shifting the Paradigm: Primary Prevention of Sexual Violence0 Guidelines: Position Statement on Preventing Sexual Violence

on College and University Campuses

0 U.S. Department of Education Higher Education Center0 Getting Started on Campus: Tips for New Prevention

Coordinators0 Preventing Violence and Promoting Safety in Higher Education

Settings: Overview of a Comprehensive Approach

Shifting the Paradigm

0Ways of prevention:1. Identify social norms that support sexual violence2. Strengthen sense of community3. Target entire community4. Link to alcohol campaigns5. Use peer educators

Disseminating Information

0New Student Orientation0Residence Hall Programs0Sorority and Fraternity Housing0Organization, Clubs, and Teams on Campus0Academic Departments0Campus Radio Stations0Parents0Community Groups

Focus on Men

010 Ways Young Men Can Prevent Sexual Violence

0 By focusing on the 10 ways of prevention, ideas about ending sexual violence can hopefully spread among men.

0 Although not all men will commit acts of sexual violence, they can still play a role in educating each other through basic daily practices

Position Statement- ACHA 2011

0 Importance of engaging the community

014 Step Plan of Recommended Actions – focuses on all levels of the University and the community

Getting Started – The Higher Education Center

0Critical Elements of Prevention:0Engaging partners across campus and in the community in

creating solutions0Fully understanding the problem0Being fully aware of best practices in sexual violence

prevention0Creating a strategic plan to address the issue0Connecting with all constituents of the University and the

community

Taking Control of the Environment

0 To prevent sexual violence, it is crucial to cultivate a University environment that does not run-counter to the no-tolerance policy associated with such activities.

0 Options include:0Offer activities that do not involve alcohol (proven to

contribute to sexual violence culture)0Create an environment centered on the promotion of health

norms0Restrict marketing and promotion of events and products on

and off campus that may contribute to sexual violence culture

0Enforce the policies and efforts

Creating Effective Programs

0Programs must be based on the needs articulated by assessment data related to sexual violence on campus

0Measurable goals and objectives as identified by assessment

0Prior effective prevention efforts

0Use of evaluation tools

Current Examples of Practice

0The Sexual Assault Violence Prevention Program at Vassar College

0SART programs

0Pomona College Advocates for Survivors of Sexual Assault

The Sexual Assault Violence Prevention Program

0 The Sexual Assault Violence Prevention Program (SAVP) is housed within the Office of Health Education.

0 SAVP provides campus programming and education about sexual assault, relationship abuse, and stalking by working closely with community partners to increase campus awareness and to generate dialogue

0 This information is also housed within the Freshman handbook

0 Sexual Assault Response Team is included in this effort

Sexual Assault Response Team (SART)

0Focus on the victim and their individual situation

0Core members

0 “…provide interagency, coordinated responses that make victims’ needs a priority, hold offenders accountable, and promote public safety.”

SART Strengths

0Minimize both short and long-term impacts of victim trauma

0Help to affirm victims concerns and address different options for dealing with said concerns

0 Improves communication between different constituencies involved.

Pomona College Advocates

0Student advocates

0On and off campus support listings

0Promotion of self care

0Basic information for supporting victims

One-in-Four

0Men’s Program1. Help men understand how to help women recover from rape.2. To increase the likelihood of bystander intervention in potentially high-risk situations

3. To challenge men to change their own behaviors and influence the behavior of others.

0Women’s Program1. Enable women to recognize characteristics of high-risk perpetrators.2. Enable and Empower women to intervene in potentially high risk situations3. Enable women to help rape survivors

Our Recommendations

0Addition of Title IX Coordinator position0Program Creation and Evaluation:

0 SART0 Bystander Education across campus constituencies0 Advocacy program0 Safe-space technology map0 One-in-Four groups0 Report training0 Poster and Social media campaign

Recommendations

0 We believe it is important for high level administrators and our task force to create an action statement that recognizes the existence of sexual violence to be adopted by campus constituencies as a show of solidarity in Star University sexual violence protection efforts.

Recommendations

0Our conduct system should be evaluated to insure that it follows a “no-tolerance” policy for sexual violence that places victims as the priority. Although following the judicial process is crucial, victims should be protected and feel safe by the granting of protection orders on campus and the creation of safe spaces on campus for victims at all times.

References0 American College Health Association, (2009). Shifting the paradigm: Primary prevention of sexual violence.

Retrieved from website: http://www.acha.org/sexualviolence/0 Langford, L. U.S. Department of Education, The Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse

and Violence Prevention. (n.d.). Preventing violence and promoting safety in higher education settings: Overview of a comprehensive approach. Retrieved from website: http://hazingprevention.org/images/stories/preventing-violence-promoting-safety-highered.pdf

0 One in four programs. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.oneinfourusa.org/index.php 0 Pomona college advocates. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://poadvocates.com/about-us 0 SART toolkit: Resources for sexual assault response teams. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/sartkit/ 0 “Sexual Assault." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 21 Feb. 2014. http

://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sexual assault0 Sexual assault and violence prevention. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://savp.vassar.edu/ 0 Stubbs, H. U.S. Department of Education, The Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and

Violence Prevention. (2008). Getting started on campus: Tips for new prevention coordinators. Retrieved from website: http://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/sites/default/files/hec/product/getting-started.pdf

0 Summary of the jeanne clery act. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://clerycenter.org/summary-jeanne-clery-act 0 The campus sexual violence elimination (save) act. (n.d.). Retrieved from clerycenter.org/campus-sexual-

violence-elimination-save-act 0 U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights. (2011). Dear colleague letter: Sexual violence background,

summary, and fast facts. Retrieved from website: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/fact_sheet_sexual_violence.pdf