JMU highlights resources to address sexual assault

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff, 

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and it is important to acknowledge this moment and the resources available to the JMU community. 

Supporting a friend and survivor of sexual assault or harassment can be critically important to their well-being and can be accomplished by showing you believe them, listening, and connecting them with the resources at JMU and within the surrounding community. 

As a community, JMU offers a variety of resources to prevent sexual assault and to build sexual and relationship health and well-being. UREC’s Health Promotion provides programming on bystander intervention, sexual and relationship health and individual sexual health coaching for students. 

JMU recognizes that there are survivors of sexual assault in our community and has confidential resources and support available for any student who has experienced harm. 

Student Support

• Victim Advocacy Services provides students with confidential support and connection to a variety of resources.
• Confidential medical care is available through the University Health Center, and confidential counseling is available through the Counseling Center.

Employee Support

• Confidential counseling is available to faculty and staff through the Employee Assistance Program. To learn more, contact your benefits specialist in Human Resources.
• The Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty, Curriculum and Policy provides support and information to faculty with questions or concerns about anti-discrimination and Title IX policy at the university.

JMU strives to be a community free from harassment and discrimination in all forms. Incidents of sexual misconduct, harassment and discrimination involving JMU community members may be reported anytime to JMU Police and/or the Title IX Office. The Title IX Office seeks to reduce and eliminate barriers caused by sex discrimination that interfere with and prevent individuals from participating in and benefitting from the educational programs and opportunities at JMU. This office can serve as a resource to help members of the JMU community better understand their reporting options, to provide education surrounding the investigative process, and to provide training on these issues. 

In the coming days and weeks, as noted below, the university is supporting student leaders and organizations who have planned events to continue to raise awareness about sexual assault and prevention. 

• The Clothesline Project is a visual way to bring awareness to sexual victimization and intimate partner violence through a display of t-shirts with messages from survivors of sexual violence (March 28-30 in The Union, Warren 256).
• Green Dot is an evidence-based comprehensive strategy to prevent power-based personal violence within the community. Training on this program is provided to include skill-based learning that encourages all members of our community to do their part to prevent harm. An overview will be provided on April 5 from 5-6 p.m. at UREC 124 and registration can be found online.
• Green Dot Action Day – Stop by the informational table on April 7 from 12:30-4:30 p.m. at Warner Commons to engage in activities, earn prizes and learn more about ways to potentially intervene in a “red dot situation.”
• Men and Violence Panel – This is a panel event to discuss the intersection of positive masculinity and sexual violence prevention. Registration is encouraged but not required, and additional information is available online. April 11 from 6-7:30 p.m. in Festival Ballroom B/C
• Take Back the Night is an annual event where survivors have a chance to share their story publicly in order to raise awareness about the impact of sexual violence. This event is open to everyone, whether you are a survivor yourself, know someone who has experienced sexual assault or care about this issue and want to show your support. It will be held on April 14 at 6 p.m. in Hartman Hall, room 2021.

In addition to the events in April, the JMU Police Department continuously offers information and consultation about crime prevention and partners with UREC to offer RAD (Rape Aggression Defense) classes. This is a non-credit, six week-long program designed to teach realistic self-defense techniques. The class begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and avoidance, while progressing to the basics of hands-on defensive concepts. 

We are thankful for the student-led organization, Students Against Sexual Violence, which serves as a vital resource and support network among students. This organization meets with JMU leadership on a regular basis to proactively work together to support students. 

It takes each of us to build safe and respectful learning spaces for one another to thrive and succeed at JMU. It is important for students, faculty and staff to know that we care, and to know that you can receive support from a variety of resources. 

Take care,

Amy Sirocky-Meck, Director, Title IX Office, and University Title IX Coordinator 

Veronica Whalen Jones, Associate Director for Health Promotion (UREC) 

Jordan McCann, Assistant Director for Sexual and Relationship Health (UREC) 

Jackie Hieber and Kristen Inouye, Victim Advocacy Services