2024 Annual Safety & Security Report

53 2024 ANNUAL SECURITY REPORT “What Were YOU Wearing?” Project: This project is a visual display of survivor’s descriptions of what they were wearing when they experienced sexual violence. The installation asks viewers to consider the amount of self-blame that results from the question: “What were you wearing?”. It is displayed in the Student Union building for one week during the Red Zone, and we also provide informational tables with resources. Safe Berks Silent Witness Project: This program features a display of life-sized red silhouettes which highlight the stories of Berks County citizens who were victims of domestic violence homicide. It is on display for one week during October, Domestic Violence awareness month. Protection of Minors: POM training is required of all new faculty, staff, and student employees. Employees must annually review the training online and ondemand. They are automatically reassigned training each year and are sent automated email reminders when the training is due. New employees and student employees are assigned training once they start their employment or return to their campus employment role. Topics covered include recognizing child abuse, detecting child predators and reporting suspected abuse. Residence Life Staff Training and Programming: Residence Life Staff Training and Programming: Training of student and professional staff employed by Residence Life focuses on issues of sexual assault on college campuses, understanding the concepts of consent, force and incapacitation, the impact of sexual assault and understanding university policy. Residence Life’s Community Assistant (CA) programming model identifies six goals, or core values, with each having its own sub-categories of programming objectives. One of the core values is “Accountability.” Within this category, CAs provide programming opportunities for residents that offer information and resources on making responsible choices (including involving alcohol), healthy relationships, dating violence, risky behaviors, as well as safe and unsafe sexual encounters. In addition, every Resident Director and Community Assistant plans and implements “all-hall” programs promoting sexual assault awareness each academic year. All Hall programs are marketed and designed to catch residents’ attention about the serious issue of sexual assault and dating violence, while addressing topics such as identifying unhealthy relationships, safe sex and dating practices, consent, breaking myths, bystander intervention, sexual harassment and violence and the resources available to help those in need. The staff gathers information from campus and local resources and presents it at the program. Brochures and newsletters are used as a tool for residents to take information away from the programs as well. Each program is tailored to the community served. These programs also touch upon how students can remain safe and included information about how alcohol use relates to incidents of sexual violence. Residence Life also sponsors a large-scale program dealing with sexual violence prevention. Every residence hall shared area bathroom displays the “Potty Paper” publication from the Women’s Center in every stall. This poster contains information on upcoming programs, as well as the contact information for campus and community resources on rape, sexual assault and domestic violence. The Potty Paper was developed to provide campus and local hotline information to individuals in a safe space (restroom stalls) where people could rely on finding the information in a private, consistent and reliable manner. Throughout the year, CAs create bulletin boards with information about consent, resources, warning signs of sexual assault, definitions of sexual violence and sexual violence myth busters. They work collaboratively with campus constituents such as the Health Promotions Coordinator and the Women’s Center to provide quality programs in the residence halls. In addition, they also produce another “all hall” program on Alcohol Awareness which includes education on topics related to sexual assault such as bystander intervention, myth busting, and resources. Women’s Center (WC) Programs: The Women’s Center provides free safety whistles to students at the center along with brochures about safety and resources on campus. The Center also has a collection

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