Coalition to Address Relationship and Sexual Violence (CARSV)
Institutional Commitment
Penn State University recognizes sexual violence and related forms of misconduct (dating violence, domestic violence, sexual harassment, stalking, gender-based harassment) as serious campus and public health issues that affect every member of our community. Sexual and Relationship violence causes significant harm to those victimized, indirect harm to others, and contributes to a climate of hostility and fear antithetical to the university's learning mission. As a university community, we are committed to developing and implementing prevention strategies, policies, procedures, and services to foster cultural change, reduce risk, and increase support for members of our community affected by sexual violence and related misconduct.
Initial Goals
- Propose, develop, and implement annual education for students, staff, and faculty addressing sexual and relationship violence prevention, reporting, and support resources (Prevention)
- Increase student, staff, and faculty understanding of and willingness to intervene in situations that pose risk to individuals to prevent all forms of sexual misconduct before they occur (Prevention)
- Through the analysis and removal of barriers preventing individual reports of misconduct, increase reports of sexual misconduct and other forms of gender discrimination (Data)
- Informed by the Sexual Misconduct Climate Survey (SMCS) and additional university specific data, examine and recommend policies, practices and procedures supporting the reduction in and eradication of sexual and relationship violence (Data)
- Continue to support existing community efforts, while working to better coordinate resources and support related to prevention and response and addressing any gaps in service, protocols and climate (Response)
- Strengthen relationships between university and community providers to include advocacy organizations, law enforcement, the criminal justice system and medical and psychological providers (Response)
Sub-groups
Striving to continue forward movement on the goals listed above, the following sub-groups will convene as we re-charge CARSV:
- Prevention Education Strategy
- Data, Research, and Survey Planning
- Reporting Processes, Victim/Survivor Response, and Community Support