Violence Prevention

Violence Prevention
 
Definitions of Personal Violence:
    Sexual Assault
    Other Types of Physical Assault
    Dating Violence (physical and/or psychological)
    Stalking
    Bullying / Harassment
 
Programming
 
Established in 2013, the University’s Violence Against Women Act Team (VAWA) serves as an advisory board and clearinghouse for all sexual assault/harassment, domestic/dating violence, and stalking awareness and prevention programs and campaigns. In collaboration with the Title IX Coordinator, the VAWA Team plans, records, and assesses an array of programming and training opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and other community members. Educational programs are offered to raise awareness for all incoming students and employees and are often held during new student and new employee orientation periods and throughout an incoming student’s first semester. The University also requires staff and students to complete online training modules, administers a robust campus climate survey, distributes policy statements and informational pamphlets, and sponsors a variety of poster campaigns throughout the year to raise awareness, aid in prevention, and prompt discussions of institutional policies on sexual misconduct as well as the relevant criminal definitions of sexual offenses under Washington State law. The University's programs also offer information on risk reduction, bystander intervention, victim empowerment, male engagement, and the recognition of warning signs.
 
Examples of yearly programming
 
  • Domestic Violence Awareness Month Programming (October)
  • Sexual Assault Awareness Month Programming (April)
  • Healthy Relationships
  • Bystander Intervention (Green Dot)
 
Examples of specific programs offered to students and employees include, but are not limited to:
· Green Dot Violence Prevention and Bystander Intervention
· Sex Signals
· Take Back The Night
· The Clothesline Project
· Saints Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE)
· Preventing Discrimination & Sexual Violence: Title IX & VAWA for Faculty & Staff (Online)
· Unlawful Harassment Prevention for Higher Education Faculty, Staff and Supervisors (Online)
· Think About It (Online)
 
The University strives to encourage bystander engagement through training on safe, positive, and realistic Green Dot intervention techniques, which are taught to all first-year and transfer students during the Incipio orientation program. Bystander empowerment training highlights the need for those who intervene to ensure their own safety in the intervention techniques they choose and motivates them to intervene as stakeholders in the safety of the community when others might choose to be bystanders.
 
If you have any questions about the University's Sexual Misconduct training and programming, please contact Tim McClain, Chair of the Violence Against Women Act Team, at (360) 486-8856 or tmcclain@stmartin.edu
Other members of the committee are:
           
            Alice Loebsack                       Janie Sacco                              Jan Berney     
            Ann Adams                             Sheila Steiner                          Will Staeklin
            Howard Thronson                   John Hopkins                         
 
 
What to do if you want to be an effective Bystander
 
  • Recognize there is a potential threat to someone
  • Decide that you want to do something to stop the act
  • Use the 3D’s to decide how best to respond
    • Direct: Engage yourself by checking in with them, calling for help, etc
    • Delegate: Get someone else to intervene for you: Public Safety, RA, Coach, etc
    • Distract: Create a diversion of attention: spill a drink, ask to borrow the phone, etc.
 
Resources
 
Community
 
  1. The Crisis Clinic, 360-586-2800 (information/referral to community resources)
  2. St. Peter Hospital, 360-491-9480
  3. SafePlace (rape relief/women's shelter), 360-754-6300
  4. Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-562-6025
  5. Police, 911
 
Athletic Department
Alice Loebsack-Assistant Athletic Director of Sports Medicine and Wellness
253-363-0005(cell) 360-438-4536 (work)
Your coach
Bob Grisham-Athletic Director
360-438-4568 (work)
 
Campus Resources
Counseling Center* 360-412-6123
Health Center, 360-412-6160
Title IX coordinator, 360-486-8131
Public Safety, 360-438-4555
Director of Public Safety, 360-486-8876 (https://www.stmartin.edu/directory/office-public-safety/prevention-and-policies/violence-campus)
On-call Housing Staff, 360-507-2511/2512
Dean of Students, 360-438-4367
Director of Housing and Residents Life, 360-486-8856
Clergy*
 
*These people are not considered mandatory reporters and will not disclose anything unless clearly allowed and agreed upon with those reporting.  All others are considered Mandatory Reporters and have a duty and requirement to notify public safety and their supervisor in order to ensure safety for those reporting and others.
 
What to do if you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted
 
  1. Tell someone. It is important that you find someone you trust to talk with about what has happened. You probably will feel stunned and confused, and you will need support, understanding and assistance. Don't isolate yourself. On campus, you can visit the Counseling and Wellness Resource Center in the Lynch Building (360-438-4371). If you don't feel comfortable talking to someone face to face, you can use any of the following services over the phone:
    1. The Crisis Clinic, 360-586-2800 (information/referral to community resources)
    2. St. Peter Hospital, 360-491-9480
    3. SafePlace (rape relief/women's shelter), 360-754-6300
    4. Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-562-6025
  2. You are encouraged to report any incident of sexual violence to the police. You can report what has happened to the local police without taking legal action against the assailant. You also can contact the local police department to press either civil or criminal charges.
  3. Get medical attention within 72 hours. Any hospital emergency room can provide you with necessary care including, but not limited to sexually transmitted disease/infection (STD/I) testing and a rape kit. Locally, St. Peter's Hospital will perform examinations free of charge in cases of sexual violence. Remember, you should seek medical attention BEFORE you shower or even eat, drink, or smoke.
  4. Conduct may constitute a violation of University policy even if it would not constitute criminal activity; therefore you are encouraged to report any incident which you believe may be an act of sexual violence or sexual harassment on campus whether or not law enforcement authorities have been contacted. Several different options are available to you to report what happened. You can report to the:
                                        Dean of Students, Melanie Richardson (360-438-4367)
                                        Director of Housing and Residence Life, Tim McClain (360-486-8856)
                                        Director of Public Safety, Howard Thronson (360-486-8876)
                                        University's Title IX Coordinator, Cynthia Johnson (360-486-8131).
                                        After normal business hours, you may contact Public Safety (360-438-4555) or the on-call Housing staff (360-507-2511/2512) for                                         assistance. University personnel will be available to assist you should you choose to report the incident to law enforcement.
 
  1. While promptness in reporting is desirable, the case may be investigated as long as the alleged perpetrator continues to be a student or employee at the University.
  2. Depending on the circumstances, some of the possible remedies available to you as a result of reporting the incident to the University include: temporary or permanent no-contact orders, providing escorts to ensure your ability to move safely between classes and other campus activities, removal of alleged perpetrator from classes you both attend, moving to a different residence hall, counseling services, medical service, academic support services, and/or accommodation for re-taking classes without penalty.