Author: Deborah Redshaw

Women’s Self-defense Class (free) 2/13

The UConn Police Department in partnership with Off-Campus Student Services and Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services, are working together to reaffirm the goal of providing the highest level of safety and well-being to the UConn community, by offering FREE self-defense classes to members of our community.

The goal of the UConn Police START program is to offer an easily accessible educational and awareness programs for our community. Specifically our Women’s Self-Defense Program is designed to help women develop a foundation of basic self-defense and offers them viable options when confronted with various threats of violence.

This 14 hour self-defense course, will consist of 4 classes held on Monday nights starting February 13th, through March 6th 2017; Classes will start at 5:30 pm and end before 9pm. Each class will be held at UConn’s Shippee Hall’s Pequot Room. The first 3 classes are mandatory to complete the course while the 4th class, offers students the opportunity to take part in hands-on, simulated exercises, is voluntary.  This comprehensive course progresses from awareness, prevention and risk reduction to basic physical self-defense exercises into the simulation exercises. The course we are currently teaching women is the “R.A.D. For Women: Basic Physical Defense”.

For the male members of our community interested in similar courses, please visit the webpage listed below for information on the UConn Police Men’s safety program “R.A.D for men”, Resisting Aggression with Self-Defense by teaching skills to resist and escape aggressive behaviors.

Class size is limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants must attend the first 3 classes in order to participate in the simulated exercises!

To register for this class please follow the link below to access our online sign up form, which opens January 30th.

http://publicsafety.uconn.edu/police/education-and-programs/self-defense-classes/self-defense-program-sign-up-interest-form/

For more information, contact: Ofc Eric Bard at eric.bard@uconn.edu

Men’s Advisory Council Meeting 2/7

Join our Men’s Advisory Council

Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence has formed a Men’s Advisory Council for our statewide Where Do You Stand? Connecticut campaign and sexual violence prevention work. Our goal is to continue to engage men as allies in our work to prevent sexual violence and to cultivate prevention leaders in our state.

The Council is facilitated by Andrew Stewart, Assistant Professor at the Hiatt School of Psychology at Clark University, and longtime Alliance partner. Andrew is a leader in the prevention of sexual violence and is committed to empowering men to be involved in prevention. For more information about the Men’s Advisory Council, Andrew can be reached at AndStewart@clarku.edu or Beth Hamilton, Associate Director of The Alliance, can be reached at beth@endsexualviolencect.org.

Tuesday, February 7, 2017 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm
The Alliance, 96 Pitkin Street, East Hartford, CT

Anyone who self-identifies as a man and is interested in sexual violence prevention is welcome to attend!

Register Now

Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence, 96 Pitkin Street, East Hartford, CT 06108

New University Lactation Policy

The University recently adopted a Lactation Policy made effective on 12/20/2016. This new policy reinforces the University’s commitment to providing a supportive environment for employees and students who are breastfeeding. The policy enables employees and students to express milk in a private place, have reasonable break time and a location within five minutes of their work and study areas.

Please review the full policy at http://policy.uconn.edu/?p=7009. Procedures, which include specific guidance for students, employees, graduate assistants and supervisors, are available at the end of the policy.

We ask that managers who supervise employees with limited computer access to please post the policy in a common area.

For more information, contact: The Department of Human Resources at (860) 486-3034.

“The Yellow Dress”, October 11

10/11 “The Yellow Dress” Intimate Partner Violence
The UConn Police invites students, staff, and faculty to the “The Yellow Dress” performance by Deana’s Educational Theater in the UConn Student Union Theater on Tuesday, October 11th, 2016 from 7pm-8pm. There is no charge for admission. This one-woman play portrays the signs and dangers of dating violence through the story of a young woman who was a victim of intimate partner violence. The performance is followed by a thought-provoking discussion that engages the audience in a reflection of the events that occurred throughout the performance.

In conjunction with “The Yellow Dress,” the UConn Police is also sponsoring a winter-clothing drive to donate winter necessities to CT Domestic Violence shelters through the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence this October. Donations will be accepted September 28th through October 10th in the UCPD Library Substation located in the basement near the Leisure Reading Room. Individuals may also drop off donations to the UConn Police Department and direct the items to the Community Policing Unit. Encouraged items include new or lightly worn gloves, scarves, hats, earmuffs, socks (new).

Hours for donation collection—Library Substation:
Thursday, September 29th
9am – Noon

Monday, October 3rd
12 Noon – 3pm

Tuesday, October 4th
9am – 12 Noon

Wednesday, October 5th
12 Noon – 3pm

Thursday, October 6th
9am – Noon

For more information, contact: Kathryn Overturf at kathryn.overturf@uconn.edu

Clothesline Project, October 5-7

The Clothesline Project is a traveling visual display of t-shirts made by survivors and secondary survivors of gender-based violence to raise awareness about the prevalence of these violations right here on campus.

Survivors and supporters are encouraged to stop by the VAWPP Office (SU Room 419) anytime between Wednesday, October 5 and Friday, October 7, 11:00AM – 1:00PM, to create a t-shirt of their own in a private and safe environment.

If you cannot make a t-shirt during the times scheduled, please contact the VAWPP Coordinator at lauren.donais@uconn.edu.
For more information, contact: Lauren Donais at lauren.donais@uconn.eduOct

OIE Releases Annual Report to CT General Assembly

The Office of Institutional Equity (formerly Office of Diversity and Equity) released a detailed report to the Connecticut General Assembly that provides a comprehensive review of its sexual violence response and prevention efforts to legislators.  The report for calendar year 2015 was posted on OIE’s website on September 30, 2016 and submitted to the legislature in compliance with state law, and in the interest of informing all students, faculty and staff on this important subject.

Report Pursuant to Connecticut General Statues Section 10a-55m

9/27/16 Where Do You Stand Connecticut?

A Call to Action for Connecticut Men

Over the past three years, more than 2,500 men have attended Where Do You Stand Connecticut? bystander intervention training sessions and more than 1,500 men have pledged to help prevent sexual violence in their communities.

On September 27th and 28th, the Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence, along with our nine community-based sexual assault crisis programs, several community partners and Men Can Stop Rape will work with over 100 men throughout the state who wish to take action to prevent sexual violence and build a safer Connecticut. Additional Information and registration.