The grant will fund a campus prevention educator to help promote a campus climate of consent and respect, the creation of a comprehensive prevention program for all incoming students, and training for the university police department, faculty and staff.
The grant supports university efforts to dispel beliefs and practices that promote sexualized violence in our community, SAPC Co-Chair and Chair of HSU’s Department of Critical Race Gender and Sexuality Studies Kim Berry says.
“We need to be aware that the majority of rapes and crimes of stalking are committed by non-strangers, and domestic and dating violence is committed by someone the survivor often loves,” Berry says. “When we realize that the harm is coming from people within our community, we understand that we need to examine the cultural messages and accepted ways of interacting that support these acts of violence.”
The grant will also help develop bystander intervention strategies and build upon the work of campus peer educators to create a more safe and accountable community, says Paula Arrowsmith-Jones of the North Coast Rape Crisis Team. “Given the pervasive nature of the violence and the ripple effect for those indirectly impacted, we have the collective responsibility of ending violence and creating healthy relationships and communities.”
Central to the implementation of the grant will be ensuring that campus efforts are more survivor-centered. Survivor-centered practices are those in which “the thoughts, needs and choices of survivors as individuals and a group are a priority,” Arrowsmith-Jones says.
SAPC’s previous work includes the creation of a website—"humboldt.edu/stoprape:"www.humboldt.edu/stoprape—to provide current and accurate information for survivors and first responders. The committee also sponsors various on-campus events for survivors and allies of sexualized violence including the Consent Project and Take Back the Night.
SAPC relies on collaboration between campus leaders and community organizations to prevent and respond to rape and dating violence. Membership includes representatives from the University Police Department, the Student Health Center, Counseling and Psychological Services, Housing and Dining, Associated Students and the North Coast Rape Crisis Team.