University of Montana to Hold Sexual Assault Awareness Seminars

Last fall an internal investigation of sexual assaults on the campus  of the University of Montana in Missoula determined that several cases were not reported properly. Subsequently, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education opened investigations into the university’s policies and procedures.

As a result, all employees are now required to undergo training on proper procedures for reporting sexual assaults and university staff who deal directly with incidents of sexual assaults must undergo more extensive training than has been the case in the past. Also, all students on campus must complete a new online tutorial called Personal Empowerment Through Self-Awareness (PETSA).

Now the university’s Office of Public Safety has announced that it is offering three sexual assault awareness seminars for women that will deal with self-defense, campus resources, date rape drugs, and first-step reporting processes. The seminars, which are open only to women, will use several case studies and interviews with actual perpetrators so women can gain insight into the mindset of sexual predators.