The university administration has agreed to find funding in the University Health Center’s budget to save the victim advocate position, for which state funding expires this year.
Fearing the Student Government Association legislature would not be able to financially support the position as it wanted to, outgoing President Aaron Kraus met with Linda Clement, vice president for student affairs, and the two agreed the health center will provide funding for the victim advocate, who provides support to victims of sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking and sexual harassment. Nancy Hensler-McGinnis, the current victim advocate has helped about 200 students since starting at the university in 2002.
The health center will not receive additional funding from the university but instead must set aside the money from its existing budget, Clement said.
Sacared Bodison, director of the health center, said she does not know what measures the center will take to find money within the budget.
“Any time you have to fund a position that didn’t exist before, you have to be thoughtful about it,” Bodison said. “The health center is committed to making sure we have a victim advocate after Nancy [Hensler-McGinnis] leaves, and we’ll do what we have to make it happen.”
Hensler-McGinnis leaves June 1, and will be replaced by another graduate student. The position was originally funded by a three-year grant from the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention, which has incrementally decreased since 2002.
Kraus initially planned to find $12,000 for the victim advocate in the SGA’s budget, but did not believe he would have enough support from legislators.
“If the administration says they will fund this, then our goal of keeping the victim advocate is met,” Kraus said. “The goal is to keep the victim advocate, I don’t care where funding came from. … The SGA is not an organization to supplement administrative functions. I don’t want to make a precedent of subsidizing the administration with SGA money.”
The Jewish Social Action Committee and Amnesty International raised about $6,000 in March for the position; Kraus’ plan would have the SGA pay the rest, covering the victim advocate’s tuition and stipend.
“Students have given me a clear message that it is important,” Bodison said. “I’m so impressed with support coming from students, so I have to make sure the funds come up.”
