1. Educating the Community, Empowering Survivors, Preventing Violence Erica tolles, MA, LMHC Associate Director Student Development and Counseling Center Worcester Polytechnic Institute Massachusetts
NASPA
San Diego
2014

2. Overview In the News Experiential Exercise Statistics
Prevention Education at WPI
Group Discussions
Peer Education
Campus Events
Policies and Procedures
What this session is NOT.
Focused on policies or risk management

3. Ripped from the headlines…

4. Empathy Exercise Write down or bring to mind
The person you trust the most
A place you feel the safest
Your favorite activity
A Secret
Reflection Questions
How might a survivor feel?
What do you think survivors need?
How might you help them in the healing process?

5. Sexual Assault Statistics
Survivors by Gender over the Lifetime
Reporting and False Accusations
Men 1 in 33
Women 1 in 6
Transgender Possibly 1 in 2*
*Difficult to determine due to sample size
Reported Rapes 46%
False Accusations 2%
College Statistics
20% - 25% of college women experience rape or attempted rape during their college career
9 out of 10 college students who are survivors of assault knew their attackers
Most men don’t rape, but the few that do typically commit multiple assaults
90% of all campus rapes occur under the influence of alcohol/other drugs
Women who study abroad are 3 times more likely than peers to experience an
attempted sexual assault
Red Zone- the first six weeks of college term when students are most vulnerable
to rape and sexual assault
90% of all campus rapes occur under the influence of alcohol
College women who study abroad are 3 times more likely than their peers who did not travel to experience an attempted sexual assault. They are 5 times more likely to experience a rape.
9 out of 10 college students who are survivors of assault knew their attackers
20-25% of college women experience rape or attempted rape during their college career

6. History of Sexual Assault Prevention Education at WPI
Fall of A couple of high profile incidents involving sexual assault occurred at WPI. The president requested that a sexual assault prevention task force be formed. This group (SAVE) continues to meet regularly 2006 – CAS 101, female peer education group formed Fall 2006 – Education begins during New Student Orientation 2008 – MAVRIC, male peer education group formed 2009 – First Annual Clothesline Project & Take Back the Night Event Summer 2009 – Sexual Assault Judicial Advocate job description created and these individuals began having annual training 2009 – Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) System – started as a small group class once a year and has been offered as a PE class for credit since – SDCC and IGSD partner to begin prevention programming prior to travel through the Global Perspective Program 2012 – Peer education groups combined to form SPARC

7. WPI’s Prevention Plan Peer Education Training the Community
Awareness Events
Passive Programming
Training the Community
Student Support Network
Peer Educator Presentations
Bystander Training
Annual training for Sexual Assault Judicial Advocates
Committees*
SAVE (WPI’s Sexual Assault Violence Education Committee)
Worcester College’s Violence Prevention Committee
College Representatives
Local Rape Crisis Center, YWCA/Daybreak

8. DOJ OVW Grant
Grant to Reduce Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking on Campus Program
$499,962 for 4 colleges (Clark, AC, HC, and WPI) over 3 years beginning October 2012
$50,000 directly to programming at WPI
Grant Requirements
Mandatory training for incoming students
Training for campus police
Training for judicial board members
Coordinated Community Response Network (SAVE and Title IX Coordinator & Deputies)

9. Training for Incoming Students
Prior to Arrival at WPI
Alcohol Edu including Haven
1082 logged into course, 978 completed
New Student Orientation
Equalogy’s “One Night”
Processing Conversation with CA and RA
Bringing in the Bystander
Facilitated by students and staff (39 total)
Part of Insight program
957 (out of 1050) first year students participated
Modifying This Plan Next year

10. WPI Resource SHEET

11. Training for Campus Police and Judicial Board Members
“Adjudicating Sexual Misconduct on College Campuses” Friday October 25th at WPI
2 tracks: Campus Police and Campus Judicial Board
Michelle Garcia – Director, Stalking Resource Center, National Center for Victims of Crime
Lindy Aldrich, Esq. – Victims Rights Law Center
Elaine M. Gill – Gill Investigative Services, Inc.
Jeremy Inabinet M.Ed. – The NCHERM Group, LLC
Participants from 4 colleges
Campus Police: 15
Judicial Board: 14

12. Jessica WPI Class of 2014 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzAdKR6BW4s
Student Testimonials
Jessica WPI Class of

13. Changing the Culture

14. Policies and Procedures
Group discussion
Policies and Procedures
Peer Education
Annual Events
Prevention Education
Current Practices?
Successes?
Challenges?
Brainstorming!

15. Contact Me
Erica Tolles, MA, LMHC Associate Director, WPI SDCC WPI’s Student Development & Counseling Center