VCU news

By Michael Ford
University News Services

Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Sociology is creating a resource center at VCU for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking, and the model for the program will be offered to other Virginia college campuses.

The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services has awarded the department a $70,000 grant to establish the program in an effort to increase both the rate of reporting and the number of services offered to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking among students, faculty and staff. Program coordinators plan to create a model that can be used on other college campuses across Virginia. The grant to VCU was part of nearly $3 million awarded statewide through the state’s Domestic Violence Victim Fund.

Sarah Jane Brubaker, Ph.D., assistant professor of sociology and director of the resource center in the VCU Department of Sociology, said the program has two goals: to increase the reporting of violations and the referral of victims to services; and to create a more informed and responsive institutional environment by training those most likely to respond to an initial report of a violation — students, faculty, staff and police.

“The best way to increase reporting of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking is to educate ourselves about what is unacceptable sexual conduct,” Brubaker said. “Our goal is to create an awareness campaign that provides information instead of shame or fear and also publicizes the availability of victim services.”

Located at Bird House, 820 W. Franklin St., the resource center is scheduled to open Oct. 31. Gay Cutchin will serve as coordinator. For more information contact Sarah Jane Brubaker at sbrubaker@vcu.edu or Gay Cutchin at dcutchin@mail1.vcu.edu.