Student victims of sexual assault, domestic or dating violence and stalking have more on-campus options than before, thanks to a grant provided to the Women's Center from the Department of Justice.
The grant, which was received in October 2009, allowed the Women's Center to found the Ohio University Survivor Advocacy Program.
Susanne Dietzel, director of the Women's Center, said the Survivor Advocacy Program was in place in order to give student victims more options to report assaults.
We are providing a safe and confidential space where people can go to and get informed about the options that they have in pursuing a case
Dietzel said. Whether they want to go to the hospital whether they want to go to counseling whether they want to report the case or whether they wish to go through judiciaries. ... It's their decision.
Lindsey Daniels, the program coordinator of the Survivor Advocacy Program, was previously employed for three years at Tri-County Mental Health and Counseling. Daniels operated its sexual assault program with a focus on primary prevention.
When the Tri-County Mental Health and Counseling's survivor advocacy program lost funding in 2008, the need for an on-campus advocate was apparent, Daniels said.
If you look at the at-risk groups for sexual assault and for dating violence
those who are 18 to 24 are at a pretty high risk for victimization. ... One of the great things is that we're another confidential
private reporting location
Daniels said. The survivor advocates' primary responsibility is to be there for the survivor.
Dietzel said the Survivor Advocacy Program acts as a buffer between the system and the victim.
We still have mandatory reporting as before
but because Lindsey (Daniels) is an independent licensed social worker
she has confidentiality ... so if you were assaulted
you could talk to her before you decided to go to the police
Dietzel said. It makes
it much easier for a survivor or victim to weigh her options.
The Survivor Advocacy Program is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and has an on-call service available Thursday at 5 p.m. through Monday at 9 a.m. Daniels said that
emphasis is put on weekend coverage.
Fall quarter is one of the riskiest times
especially for incoming students. Every weekend is covered with the exception of one because of staffing issues
