A new sexual assault response and prevention program will be launched next semester that will require mandatory education for new students and increased training of university administrators.
The Sexual Assualt Response and Prevention Program Office, a department in the University Health Center that is leading the effort, will organize the initiative into four components: expanding existing programs, educating students, training public safety officials and training administrators.
The program, which will be a joint project with Bowie State University and funded by a three-year $500,000 grant from the U.S. Justice Department, aims to reduce relationship violence, sexual assault and stalking on campus.
Administrators and University Police will be trained how to communicate better with sexual assault victims, and program coordinator Michelle Corbin said she hopes to forge a relationship between the health center and state attorney general’s office, which handles assault cases.
One in five women nationally could be raped or sexually assaulted during college, according to the 2000 National College Women Sexual Victimization study, and Corbin said the issue is “a deeply entrenched problem on our campus.”
“What this program will do is allow us to tackle the issue from multiple levels,” she said.
Though the details of the education aspect are still being worked out, health center officials said it will likely be incorporated into freshman orientation and be similar to the university’s online alcohol education program, AlcoholEdu.
The grant has revitalized the Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence committee, which has informally existed since 2005 but met last month to review sexual abuse policies at the university.
Composed of representatives from many university organizations, including the health center, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and the Office of Student Conduct, the committee will work to create a coordinated, victim-friendly university sexual assault response method.
Some students, however, were doubtful the effort will have the desired effect.
“Taking a collaborative approach is a great way to help decrease the amount of sexual assault that goes on campus, as it is not possible to tackle the problem if not everyone is involved,” junior marketing major Stephanie Nguyen said. “But if the education program is similar to AlcoholEdu, then I can guarantee that no one will pay attention.”
Though students already at the university don’t have to participate, some said they welcome the university’s proactive approach to the loaded issue but have suggestions for how to address it more effectively.
“I think sexual assault is an unspoken issue on campus, so it is important that the university is starting to facilitate conversations about it,” said senior business major Maroulla Plangetis. “One way they can better target incoming students is within the university 100-level introduction to college classes.”
Though the program will attempt to decrease the number of sexual assaults that occur on the campus, the main focus will be on raising awareness and creating a welcoming atmosphere so that more victims will feel comfortable coming forward, Corbin said.
“Even if there isn’t a decline in sexual assaults, I would still be satisfied to see a more positive atmosphere for victims to heal,” Corbin said.
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