Emory University Beefs Up Efforts to Combat Sexual Assault

Emory University in Atlanta is taking a number of steps aimed at ending relationship violence on campus. Among the efforts is a new video featuring high-level administrators describing their commitment to ending relationship violence. Also several sexual violence awareness events are being held on campus and new education initiatives have been established to inform the campus community. In 2012, Emory says that there 25 forcible sex offenses reported on its main campus.

Laura Bernstein, assistant director of the Respect Program on the Emory campus, states, “”For me, what’s been fruitful over the last couple of years is addressing response and reporting on campus. But that’s a small piece of a broader picture across the prevention continuum. While it’s really critical to respond to incidents of crisis, primary prevention asks us what we can do educate our campus community, providing proactive measures, stopping violence before it starts.”

Carolyn Livingston, senior associate vice president of campus life at Emory, add, “”I think the message is we’re building community on this campus and sexual violence is antithetical to our community.”