Spring Break
Letter: URI Peer Advocate says resources available for sexual assault victims
Issue date: 2/15/08 Section: Editorial/Opinion
02/15/08 - To the Cigar, Although we appreciate any attention that can be brought to the issues of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking, the letter written in Tuesday's issue of the Cigar, "URI graduate student says more should be done for sexual assault victims," is written from an extremely uninformed perspective.
The letter claims resources are lacking at this university. The graduate student is correct in saying that her lack of involvement in student life influences her perspective. The URI Peer Advocates, run through the Violence Prevention and Advocacy Services program, is a dynamic and diverse group of 30 undergraduate and graduate students who work with victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking on campus.
These same students have taken on a personal mission to help inform and educate the URI campus of these issues. They represent numerous athletic teams, fraternities, sororities and student groups.
In 2006, the Peer Advocates were recognized with the A. Robert Rainville Award, which is given for group leadership. That same year they were honored with national recognition, winning the award for Outstanding Student Programming for Violence Prevention on a College Campus. Most recently, just last week, they were the recipients of the Martin Luther King Jr. Award for Peace and Nonviolence, which is given by the URI Chaplains Association.
As the writer's letter states, her previous college had a hotline number. The Peer Advocates also have an informational phone line, and that number is (401) 874-9293. In addition to that there is an informational e-mail address, which is peerinfo@etal.uri.edu. Both of these are staffed on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Along with those resources, there are numerous outreach programs run by the Peer Advocates. All freshmen see a health and safety presentation on domestic violence, sexual assault and date rape drugs by two peer advocates as part of their URI 101 class.
The letter claims resources are lacking at this university. The graduate student is correct in saying that her lack of involvement in student life influences her perspective. The URI Peer Advocates, run through the Violence Prevention and Advocacy Services program, is a dynamic and diverse group of 30 undergraduate and graduate students who work with victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking on campus.
These same students have taken on a personal mission to help inform and educate the URI campus of these issues. They represent numerous athletic teams, fraternities, sororities and student groups.
In 2006, the Peer Advocates were recognized with the A. Robert Rainville Award, which is given for group leadership. That same year they were honored with national recognition, winning the award for Outstanding Student Programming for Violence Prevention on a College Campus. Most recently, just last week, they were the recipients of the Martin Luther King Jr. Award for Peace and Nonviolence, which is given by the URI Chaplains Association.
As the writer's letter states, her previous college had a hotline number. The Peer Advocates also have an informational phone line, and that number is (401) 874-9293. In addition to that there is an informational e-mail address, which is peerinfo@etal.uri.edu. Both of these are staffed on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Along with those resources, there are numerous outreach programs run by the Peer Advocates. All freshmen see a health and safety presentation on domestic violence, sexual assault and date rape drugs by two peer advocates as part of their URI 101 class.
