Campus Safety

By Anita Jaggi

The United States Department of Justice has offered colleges a grant to help reduce violence on campus. Many instances have occurred that pertain to women, such as domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.
The Office on Violence Against Women, which is part of the U.S. Department of Justice, is offering this grant with the intention on creating efficient responses towards violent behavior. Campuses that collaborate with community based organizations, and local criminal and civil agencies, must take on the same policies and procedures that they follow. Not only will colleges have to treat violence against women as a serious offense, but they must also develop victim service programs that help prevent such crimes from happening.

By providing this grant, the goal is to persuade colleges and various other schools to provide better safety for their students. SUNY Old Westbury has taken on this opportunity and is currently involved with many activities on campus that encourage faculty and students to come together. The award is $200,000 for two years. Old Westbury is continuing this program against violence and is applying for another grant. The grant that can possibly be attained is $300,000 for three years.
The Women’s Center is the main division that handles this grant and the victim service programs. However, the entire school is involved with this organization. Some of the other offices include but are not limited to the Counseling Center, Residential Life, Student Government Association and University Police. The grant is given to colleges to create their own programs but require outside associations to become involved. The Nassau County Police Department and the Nassau Office of the District Attorney are also involved in programs pertaining to violence against women.

In addition to linking up with outside enforcement, colleges must also train campus police on how to react to violent crimes. University police are taught to respond in a timely fashion to cases of violence. Colleges are also required to form an education program for all incoming students. The program is designed to teach students how to file complaints on incidents and gives them insight on prevention methods.
A grant is used to help fund programs like these and also gives people the incentive to want to help. It’s a chance for communities to join together and help others. Colleges like SUNY Old Westbury have worked hard to create a better environment for all students and will continue to do so.