ASU Receives DOJ Grant to Prevent Sexual Assault

Angelo State University’s Office of Student Services has been awarded a two-year, $35,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to expand campus efforts in education, awareness and prevention of violence and sexual assault.
The grant is being awarded through the DOJ’s Office on Violence Against Women under its Grants to Reduce Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking on Campus program.  Audrey Wilson, ASU director of student services, will oversee the campus efforts funded by the grant, which will include collaborations with the Health Clinic and Counseling Center, Office of Housing and Residential Programs, Center for Student Involvement, University Police, Athletics Department, Faculty Senate and Staff Senate.

“Programs that I would like to implement will be educational in nature,” Wilson said.  “Some of them will focus on consent, bystander intervention and how men can help stop sexual assault, and there will also be programs to provide information to our students on what to do and where to go if they are a victim of any type of violence.  We will try to schedule programs that will be appropriate for faculty and staff as well as students since many faculty and staff have daily interaction with a number of students.”

“I am hoping,” she added, “that as we build our knowledge and resources, we will expand our efforts to include other departments on campus.  We will also be working with the Concho Valley Rape Crisis Center to help provide services to any victims. We need to have these types of programs in place to help students not only protect themselves, but protect their friends and family members.”

The DOJ grant to ASU is classified as a planning grant.  Katie Plum, director of ASU’s Office of Sponsored Projects, said that should the university need to further expand its efforts, winning the planning grant will better position ASU to apply for a full implementation grant in the future.

For more information, contact Wilson at 325-942-2047 or audrey.wilson@angelo.edu.