{"id":1391,"date":"2015-09-15T16:43:18","date_gmt":"2015-09-15T21:43:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/eckerdstaging.com\/news\/?p=1391"},"modified":"2016-12-09T12:48:20","modified_gmt":"2016-12-09T17:48:20","slug":"new-office-bolsters-efforts-to-combat-sexual-assault-on-campus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eckerd.edu\/news\/blog\/new-office-bolsters-efforts-to-combat-sexual-assault-on-campus\/","title":{"rendered":"New office bolsters efforts to combat sexual assault on campus"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1\/1″][vc_column_text]\n

A series of initiatives begun last year to combat sexual assault on campus has expanded under the guidance of the new Office for Advocacy and Gender Justice<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The office, created by President Eastman in March, is working to raise awareness in the entire campus community of the myriad issues involving sexual harassment and assault. Led by Shannon Collins, LCSW, the effort includes prevention, assessment, education and response. Collins is also a confidential support resource for students, faculty and staff.<\/p>\n

Four students are working with Collins: Clara Suarez-Nugent, a junior majoring in International Relations and Religious Studies with a French minor; Ami Ortiz, a senior majoring in Psychology; Olivia von Mering, a senior majoring in Human Development; and Tommy \u201cThomp\u201d Wright, a junior majoring in Psychology.<\/p>\n

Collins served as the sexual assault and health issues coordinator at Georgetown University and as the program director for relationship violence services at the University of South Carolina. \u201cShannon brings a wealth of experience and training in the area of sexual violence prevention and has put together a strong team of dedicated students who will help create a climate of support for victims,\u201d said Associate Dean for Student Life and Title IX<\/a> Coordinator Lorisa Lorenzo. \u201cCreating a safe campus community is up to all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

During Autumn Term, resident advisors, peer mentors, Autumn Term faculty and EC-ERT<\/a> team members were trained in responding to sexual assault. Autumn Term also included a workshop led by Resident Advisors called \u201cMany Voices, One Vision,\u201d in which students learned about bystander intervention, campus policies and support services.<\/p>\n

All first-year and transfer students completed an online education assessment called \u201cThink About It,\u201d which educates students on sexual assault prevention. All faculty and staff will also receive online training this year on sexual harassment, sexual assault and relationship violence. Additional training sessions are being developed for departments across campus.<\/p>\n

Several campus wide educational and awareness events are planned:<\/p>\n