A grant supporting sexual violence awareness for women has recently been signed for Baker University campus safety and is funded by the U.S. department of Justice.
Associate Professor of Sociology Tim Buzzell, Director of Counseling Center Sarah Hastings and Assistant Professor of Education Karla Wiscombe are all involved with the grant, Tracy Williams, coordinator of women’s programs, said.
Williams said a lot of students are unaware of some of the situations that occur at Baker.
“Sexual assaults and drinking problems are some of the issues on campus that are causing problems that we would like to ?fix,” Williams said. “Twenty-five percent of sexual assaults are reported, and sexual assaults are something that exists, but a lot of women don’t know how to resolve the issue.”
Many of the women and men are unaware of the issues such as sexual assaults that have happened at Baker.
“I didn’t even know there was a grant being signed for the safety of women on campus” freshman Stephanie Masters said.
Williams said part of her plan will address education. The main components of the plan will be self-defense programs and more intensive intervention training for campus leaders.
“We are planning to have a peer education program and training for the security guards and resident assistants,” said Williams. “Athletes, fraternity and sorority houses?are also going (to be) trained, and self defense classes and information are to be provided at campus events.”
Williams said this is very beneficial for Baker students.
“This will allow people who experience problems such as sexual assault to get help or realize there is help available to them,” Williams said. “It will also provide education and raise awareness.”
Being aware of the help that is provided for sexually assaulted victims is the best thing to do in any situation, Williams said.
“There was a survey done that said there are victims of assaults who need help and there was a realization that there needs to be more lighting around Baker’s campus,” Williams said.
Despite the known assaults, freshman Jessica Beckmen said she feels confident in her safety.
“I think the safety at Baker is good, but there needs some improvement,” Beckmen said. “I try to avoid places that would put me in bad situations.”
One of the improvements that have been suggested is increased lighting around the dorms and on paths leading from greek houses to campus buildings. This is an issue?Student Senate has also previously addressed.
“I think a lot more lighting should be done around the dorms and there needs to more security around during the day and at ?night,” Masters said.
Masters said the program will need to focus heavily on publicity to succeed. She said students need to be told where to go for help or information about sexual violence.
“I think they would have to publicize the issues and events in order to let a lot of people know that there are ways of getting help,” Masters said.
Williams said part of her plan also includes contacting other institutions with successful programs to see if those plans could be translated to Baker’s campus.
“It’s important to find out what other universities are doing to help cope with issues such as assault and drinking;.,” Williams said. “It can benefit Baker as well as other schools dealing with the same problems.”