HSU was one of 57 campuses selected by the DOJ to receive a total of $18 million in violence prevention funding. The grant marks a continuation of funding awarded in 2012 and 2015 that allowed the University to continue and expand its programs.
As part of the new round of funding and recognition for its efforts, HSU has been asked to present at national trainings about off-campus partnerships and creating a campus community dedicated to consent and violence prevention.
<<*Related Stories*: Campus Residence Halls Promote Consent Culture | White House Honors CHECK IT Student | Violence Prevention Recognized as Model >>
The latest grant will focus on several areas:
• Supporting survivors of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and stalking
• Increasing options for accountability for survivors
• Engaging a diverse community in the work of HSU’s Sexual Assault Prevention Committee
• Increasing the capacity of HSU students to intervene when they witness potential moments of harm
• Mentoring a core group of male leaders of fraternities and sports teams to model consent-centered behavior and position themselves as active bystanders to disrupt harm
• Increasing the capacity of community members to recognize victim blaming and acts of retaliation
• Developing and implementing a transition plan to sustain the work on campus beyond the life of the grant.
The previous round of grant funding helped support innovations in HSU’s sexual violence prevention programs, led by CHECK IT.
Launched in 2014 by students from across the University, CHECK IT empowers students to challenge and disrupt harm happening in communities when they witness potential moments of sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. It provides the campus community with multiple tools for intervening in ways that are realistic and match people’s unique personalities, identities, and communication styles.
CHECK IT was recognized by the White House in 2016 for its accomplishments as a student-led violence prevention group.
Last year, a campus living community was launched, making HSU one of the nation’s first universities to have residence halls dedicated to preventing sexualized violence and supporting survivors and their allies.
This fall, a new learning community called Students for Violence Prevention offers first-year students from multiple disciplines interested in non-violence and social justice an opportunity to learn together. Learning communities improve students’ sense of belonging and community, and studies show they help improve retention and academic success.
The grant will also help HSU continue its history of partnering with community agencies that are focused on supporting survivors of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and stalking. Collaborations like this bring expertise and resources to the campus community.
HSU will receive $300,000 over three years and will work closely with the North Coast Rape Crisis Team, the Arcata Police Department, and the Humboldt County District Attorney’s office. The program supports activities that develop campus-based coordinated responses that include health providers, housing officials, administrators, student leaders, UPD, Greek Council, athletics, student clubs, Associated Students, the Title IX coordinator, the Office of Student Conduct, and the new Campus Advocate Team.
Get Involved
• Consent Project: Tuesday, Oct. 16, 6 p.m. at KBR. Includes interactive art projects to promote a more consent and survivor-centered campus, as well as a gender-inclusive survivor speak out. For more information contact alb153@humboldt.edu.
• CHECK IT. Contact mss62@humboldt.edu for more information.
• Take Back the Night on April 12, 2019.
Campus and Local Resources
• The North Coast Rape Crisis Team 24-Hour hotline: 707.445.2881.
• The Humboldt Domestic Violence Services 24-hour hotline: 707.443.6042.
• Stop Rape: Response and Prevention