Violence Against Women Act

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On March 7, 2013, President Obama signed The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (“VAWA”), which focuses of improving the criminal justice response to violence against women.  VAWA enhanced accountability for colleges to educate students and prevent gender based violence. Additional rights were afforded to campus victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.  

COMMITTED TO SAFETY

SIU is committed to fostering an environment in which all members or our campus community are safe, secure, and free from sexual misconduct of any form, including but not limited to sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. The University expects all interpersonal relationships and interactions be grounded upon mutual respect, open communications, and clear consent. 

EDUCATION and PREVENTION

SIU will present primary prevention and awareness programs for new students and new employees, in addition to on-going awareness campaigns related to prevention of sexual assault dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking for all students and employees. 

The Step Up! Program was chosen as the bystander intervention program to educate students on ways to proactively help others while ensuring their own safety and well-being.  

Training for all University employees will be provided on dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assaults, and stalking.  This training will be based on the requirements under VAWA, Title IX and the Clery Act. 

REPORTING

SIU strongly encourages all individuals to report incidents of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking to University officials and police. Individuals may report incidents to the SIU Police or the Title IX Coordinator.

The University will provide resources to support persons who have been victims of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking.

If an individual reports to you that they are a victim of a crime please follow the procedures provided during training. Provide the individual with an informational resources brochure and complete the SIU Campus Crime Report. 

PROGRAMMING

The University will provide programs that promote awareness and avert domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on campus and in our community. Initial programming will be directed at all new students and employees, followed by on-going programs directed to all students and employees in culturally relevant training including:  

  • Awareness programming on dating violence, domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault.
  • Risk-reduction strategies designed to promote healthy behaviors/relationships and recognize early warning signs of abusive behavior. 
  • Prevention programs to avert acts of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.
  • Safe and positive Bystander intervention education and training.
  • On-going University prevention and awareness campaigns.

All training provided in the above areas need to be recorded through the Violence Against Women Coordinator to be reported in the Annual Security Report. We are asking that key concepts from the Haven and Step UP! Programs be incorporated through as many university programs as possible.

The key concepts to promote awareness and avert domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on campus and in our community can be viewed here. Once a program is complete a Program Report will have to be completed and submitted. This form is available online and can be submitted upon completion. The Program Report is available here.