University receives grant to reduce sexual assaults

Marquette — NMU will receive $30,000 in funding from the Michigan State Police campus sexual assault grant program.

This grant program promotes new strategies to alter the overall culture of sexual assault among the college–age population.
This allows a unique opportunity to reach a broad array of students and educators at NMU and surrounding school districts before they reach college.

“Our goal is to reduce the incidents of sexual assault and intimate problem violence,” said NMU Department Head of Sociology & Anthropology Dr. Alan McEvoy, “through the process of educating students, pure education, educating faculty, educating staff on an array of issues.”

Many of the broad goals include disclosure, legal requirements, and reducing a climate of intimidation.
There’s much to be done, but McEvoy along with others at the university are looking forward to this opportunity.

“I want people to know that we can change the climate, and that we don’t have to endure perpetual problems of sexual violence and intimate partner violence. I want people to know that men can be part of the solution and not just part of the problem.”

The schools involved in the outreach aspect include MARESA along with the Upper Peninsula Center for Educational Development.