Contact: Allison Matthews
A federal grant awarded to Mississippi State University's sexual assault services office will help program coordinators enhance a proactive stance to prevent sexual assaults on campus.
The Office on Violence Against Women, an entity of the Department of Justice, awarded MSU the three-year $300,000 grant designated to develop and strengthen effective responses to violence against women.
Director of Outreach and Sexual Assault Services Beatrice Tatem said her office wants to cultivate a climate of awareness on campus.
"We want to promote a culture of awareness. We do not intend just to be responsive in our stance," Tatem explained.
While sexual assault services has long had a presence on campus, Tatem said her new office, Outreach and Sexual Assault Services, is a relatively young department, located in the Longest Student Health Center. Tatem said Mississippi State takes a tough stance against sexual assault to ensure that students feel safe on campus and are armed with information to help prevent violence.
Sexual Assault Services is responsible for the already notable events Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, Clothesline Project, and Take Back the Night, among others.
Tatem explained that the grant monies allow for additional staff, including a sexual assault coordinator to monitor the grant's projects and provide enhanced victim services. Additionally, funding will be used to develop and implement campus policies, protocols and services that more effectively identify and respond to the crimes of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. Development of online and personal training of campus administrators, security personnel and those serving on campus disciplinary or judicial boards will be part of the grant as well.
A new comprehensive website, resource list and calendar to educate students and raise awareness on violence against women issues will be among other projects. Outreach and Sexual Assault Services personnel plan to collaborate with other departments on campus to establish additional awareness programs for incoming freshmen and transfer students.
Tatem said as the university anticipates enrollment growth, her office will provide more programming in order to reach out to more students.
For more information about Sexual Assault Services at Mississippi State University, see http://www.health.msstate.edu/sas/