School officials are scrambling to find government grants to fund the university’s financially strapped programs aimed at preventing sexually related crimes and aiding their victims. But there appears to be no back-up plans for funneling university money to them if grant applications fall through.

The funding crises comes as the issue of sexually related crimes has taken on a higher profile on the campus as a result of recent Peeping Tom incidents and sexual assaults in the area.

University Health Center Director Sacared Bodison said she is uncertain if grant money will be available for next year, but said she would do everything possible to avoid shuttering any of the sexual assault prevention or response programs.

“[The Victim Advocate is] an important service,” she said. “Would you want to close an important service?”

many on the campus reeling.

“I think our level of programs and education will decrease,” said Laurie Stewart, coordinator of Students Advocating for Education about Rape. “It’s especially sad because of the need on this campus for these programs.”

While exact numbers of students using these programs is not available, roughly 10 to 20 students attend training to become Victim Intervention Assistants twice a semester and receive training about how to deal with sexual assaults.

“If this group is eradicated, it will be completely detrimental to the safety of the students on this campus,” said senior women’s studies major Miranda Vargas. “I feel that the university should pick up where the grants leave off.”

In addition, around 10 men come to weekly Men of Strength meetings. This club allows men to talk about issues of sexual assault and prevention on the campus.

The Victim Intervention Assistant program is a training program created by the Office of the Victim Advocate. Students in this program attend a two-day, 15-hour training session and receive a certificate identifying them as victim intervention assistants, Stewart said.

These Victim Intervention Assistants are viewed as safe people within the community; they help sexually assaulted students understand their next step, whether it be contacting the OVA or pressing charges. The program is open to all students, but was especially promoted to the Greek community. Fraternity and sorority chapters usually elect one member to be trained, Stewart said.

The 10-Man Plan, established last year, is an intervention program for fraternities to decrease the incidences of sexual assault in their chapters. This year, the program expanded to include a 10-Woman Plan in sororities to discuss issues of sexual assault and how to help a friend who has been sexually assaulted.

“I think the campus community really benefits from our program because we are pretty good at promoting awareness of sexual assault and relationship violence,” Stewart said. “We have made a ton of strong connections with the community, so it would be sad to see those end. If we don’t have enough staff, we won’t be able to provide as many programs in the coming years.”

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