Coleman: Efforts to educate about acquaintance sexual assault increased

Updated 1:00 PM September 22, 2003

Coleman: Efforts to educate about acquaintance sexual assault increased

By Laurel Thomas Gnagey

The University is broadening its reach to students on campus with messages about preventing sexual assault, President Mary Sue Coleman told the Board of Regents Sept. 18. Through a heightened awareness campaign that began at orientation this summer, Coleman said the hope is to educate more students about acquaintance sexual assault and to offer strategies for prevention.

"We began the first phase of education programs in Housing by reaching every student living in residence halls," Coleman said. Mandatory floor meetings Sept. 1 reached about 9,000 students with a message about prevention, including offering materials on the connection between sexual assault and alcohol. Sexual Assault Prevention & Awareness Center (SAPAC) representatives also provided information on the group's services, including its crisis hotline, (734) 936-3333. In addition, a skit on acquaintance assault was presented to some 5,500 freshmen at orientation.

"The awareness programs are off to a very good start, but there is still a great deal of work to do."—President Mary Sue Coleman

In October, two residence halls will be selected to pilot a more extensive training program, again using a University Housing theater troupe skit, followed by a discussion session, Coleman said. SAPAC peer educators also will be trained next month. Some 20 volunteers then will be qualified to conduct workshops on sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, and sexual harassment.

Additionally, Coleman told regents, SAPAC and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics are working together on an educational effort that will include a series of programs for members of the sports teams on healthy sexual behavior. Student Affairs and SAPAC also will offer outreach programs for Greek organizations.

"The awareness programs are off to a very good start, but there is still a great deal of work to do. In the discussions with students so far this year, our counselors tell us that they are sensing the need for more work about the issues of alcohol and acquaintance assault, as well as more emphasis to the message that no means no at any point,'" Coleman said.

For more information on SAPAC services, visit http://www.umich.edu/~sapac/index.htm.

Coleman: Efforts to educate about acquaintance sexual assault increased

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