Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand, and Congressman Tim Bishop announced that Stony Brook University will receive a grant totaling $270,000 from the Department of Justice “Grants to Reduce Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking on Campus Program.” Stony Brook University will establish a prevention and education program about sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking, including a bystander intervention program, for all incoming students, working in collaboration with campus and community-based victim advocacy organizations. Stony Brook will also use the funds to train campus police to respond effectively in domestic violence cases and develop programs to train members of campus disciplinary boards to respond effectively to charges of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking cases.
“Protecting women from abusers and predators is an enormous priority, and this investment will help keep Stony Brook’s students safe by improving response to violence and assault and educating students about domestic violence” said Schumer. “I am pleased such an important federal investment is being made at Stony Brook University and the community will have access to the support they need to help keep students safe.”
“It is critical that we provide women on campuses with the support and safety they need to combat sexual and domestic violence,” Senator Gillibrand said. “This federal investment will help provide the resources needed on the ground to effectively educate, counsel, and support students at Stony Brook University.”
“Reducing the shameful incidence of domestic violence is a vital public safety priority, and I am pleased that federal funding will help Stony Brook University educate students about the dangers of dating violence, stalking, and assault, while providing campus law enforcement and disciplinary boards new tools to prevent and respond to these unacceptable crimes on campus,” said Congressman Tim Bishop.
“Colleges and universities across the nation face the challenge of violence against women and its impact on the health and wellness of their campus communities,” said Jenny Hwang, PhD, Director of University Counseling at Stony Brook University. “Stony Brook has been a leader in this area using a public health approach to implement evidence-based programs and policies tailored to the needs of our campus community by continuing our collaborations with students, faculty, staff, and our community partners. This important award gives our campus community the continued opportunity to build on strides we’ve made in reducing and preventing violence against women and allows us to further our commitment to creating and enhancing a safe environment for learning for all members of the Stony Brook University community.”
The Grants to Reduce Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking on Campus Program was authorized by the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 and reauthorized by the Violence Against Women Act of 2000 (VAWA 2000) and then again by the Violence Against Women Act of 2005. The program provides a unique opportunity for institutions of higher education to establish multidisciplinary consortia to combat violent crimes against women on campuses. These comprehensive efforts are designed to enhance
victim services, implement prevention and education programs, and develop and strengthen security and investigation strategies in order to prevent, prosecute and respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking crimes on college campuses.