Sexual Assault Prevention and Education

• Each year PREPARE conducts mandatory sexual assault awareness and prevention programs for all incoming first-year students (now approximately 1200 students) during the first week of classes. During the programs, the sexual misconduct policy is discussed and distributed via pamphlets to students.
• Each February, PREPARE conducts a campus-wide Sexual Assault Awareness Week called "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Week." During the week, over 800 students attend awareness events including the annual "Speak-Out" in Wait Chapel as well as a related documentary or movie showing and discussion. This year PREPARE also sponsored a dialogue about sexual assault among student leaders. In addition to the events, a "Rape Awareness Wall" display is placed in front of the Pit and yellow ribbons are distributed to students, faculty and staff.
• PREPARE currently has approximately 60 trained male and female facilitators to conduct educational and awareness programs.
• Each year, newly selected facilitators participate in a mandatory course (WGS 397) for 1.5 credit hours in the Spring semester taught by University Counseling Center staff. This course educates students about rape myths and facts, gender roles and resources for victims of sexual assault. The course also trains new members to present sexual assault awareness and prevention programs. Twenty-three students completed the course this semester.
• In January of this year, PREPARE sponsored a campus-wide program called "Sex Signals" to further educate students on issues of dating, gender, consent and sexual assault. PREPARE worked closely with cosponsors including Greek Life, Student Union and Residence Life and Housing and approximately 800 students attended the show.

Support Services for Victims/Survivors

• PREPARE has 20 trained student advocates who respond to student victims of sexual assault. In addition to taking the required 1.5 hour course (WGS 397), these students participate in an additional training to become advocates. Student advocates also make presentations about their services to HES classes and to RAs during RA Training.
• During the Spring of 2001, SGA passed a bill asking the University to begin a 24-hour crisis line for victims of sexual assault. During Fall of 2001, PREPARE student advocates began carrying a pager so that students could have 24-hour access to information and support after a sexual assault. Student advocates are now carrying a cell phone instead of a pager and they continue to provide support to victims and loved ones of victims after a sexual assault.