Nancy Hensler-McGinnis, student victim advocate at the University Health Center
Nancy Hensler-McGinnis has spent the past two years counting on student groups for her job.
The victim advocate came to the university in fall 2002, and each year, her job security has become uncertain. In 2003, she had to find one-quarter of her own salary. In 2004, she needed to find half.
A grant from the Violence Against Women Act saved her in 2003, and proceeds from a campus performance of the Vagina Monologues filled last year’s void. But this year, the solution is still elusive.
Hensler-McGinnis must find funding for tuition remission and her entire stipend — a total of $27,000 — to keep her position at the university next year, and is relying on fundraisers and the attention students can bring to her position for help.
The funding allotted for her position by the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention was only good for three years, decreasing steadily each year. It expires in June.
“It would be great to know the position will be secure and not have to run around getting grants and begging student groups for money,” said Hensler-McGinnis, a doctoral student in counseling psychology. “It takes a long time to establish a position on campus, just the fact that people know about the position and care about it so much after only two and a half years is really remarkable.”
Amnesty International, Jewish Social Action Committee and the HELP Center have all donated money or are organizing fund-raisers to ensure the victim advocate position remains. But so far, only $800 of the needed funds have been collected through a HELP Center raffle.
“It’s incredibly inspiring how the students have cared about this issue,” Hensler-McGinnis said. “They want to see violence against women and violence against victims end, and they want the support services available to students, staff and faculty available on campus.”
Hensler-McGinnis has come to the aid of about 175 students on issues of sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking and sexual harassment.
Right now, the only way the position can remain on the campus next semester is if funding is found or if the administration creates a permanent full-time position.
“The money we are getting right now will be used to support the program for as much as we can, but it takes a lot of money to fulfill a graduate level position,” University Police Sgt. Laura Dyer said.
To raise funds, JSAC is sponsoring a variety show called Unity in the Community today, featuring performances by the Generics, SketchUp, the cast of the Vagina Monologues and others. On March 8, Amnesty International will host a benefit event at Noodles & Company. Ten percent of the restaurant’s proceeds will go to the victim advocate.
“When you are a victim, you need help, period,” JSAC President Jen Barry said. “What Nancy does is raise awareness about the issues by speaking to classes and groups, but then she also goes much farther beyond that and personally helps each victim fully. We thought the services she gave to the community were too important to be let go.”
“My understanding is we have a lot of support from administration, who are now aware and are trying to address this and trying to figure out how to make a permanent position,” she said. “Thanks to these student groups there’s been a lot of clamoring.”
