The University of Maine currently is a recipient of a federal grant from the Grants to Combat Violent Crimes against Women on Campuses Program. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice Violence Against Women Office. For two years, the “Safe Campus Project” will focus on the coordination of services and programs designed to improve the University’s response to violence against women on campus.

In terms of victim advocacy, the Safe Campus Project aims to integrate existing support structures for victim/survivor such as counseling and omsbud services with community- based advocacy services such as hot lines and support groups. To further enhance victim advocacy, the Project seeks to offer support, resources, and options for the victim/survivor to make the best decisions about their safety and needs.

Working closely with the UMaine Police Department and the Office of Judicial Affairs, the Safe Campus Project aims to integrate effective offender accountability strategies into victim oriented advocacy. Policy review and continuing education workshops address law enforcement and judicial affairs strategies to effectively combat rape/sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.

In terms of outreach and prevention, the Safe Campus Project is pursuing a two-pronged approach. On the one hand, the Project seeks to integrate victim advocacy concerns into the existing continuing education and training programs from Residence Life staff, and into awareness and outreach programs for all incoming students. On the other hand, Safe Campus aims to revitalize the involvement of men on campus, in particular male students, in the effort to end violence against women.

The Safe Campus Project operates on the philosophy that good working relationships with campus and community partners are essential to reach its goals. To this effect a central coordinating office works closely with the Safe Campus Task Force, which represents campus partners from Athletics to Women’s Studies, and community partners including advocacy agencies and representatives of the criminal justice and civil legal system.

The Safe Campus Project can be reached at (207)581-2515 or on the Web at http://www.umaine.edu/SafeCampusProject.