Niagara University to Lead New Study on Gender-Based Violence on College Campuses

Troy Vincent, executive vice president of the National Football League, and Tommi Vincent, chair of the National Domestic Violence Hotline, have launched The Vincent Commission, a newly established entity formed to study and address gender-based violence on college and university campuses. The Vincent Commission will partner with Niagara University to conduct “The New Ground Study on Gender-based Violence” to focus on understanding how young men, through their thoughts and experiences, perceive domestic and gender-based violence.

The research study, which will include an informational summit this fall, is expected to be completed in 12 to 18 months. The research will be led by Niagara University scholars Jennifer Beebe and Dana Radatz. A vital cornerstone of the work will seek to better understand how young men’s experiences influence how they perceive, understand, and process the impact of all forms of gender violence.

Based on results from “The New Ground Study,” The Vincent Commission will recommend best practices for prevention, educational approaches, and policy changes. In addition, core findings from the study will also enable the commission to offer a new model for higher education institutions on the prevention of gender-based violence and bring awareness to bystander intervention. The intention is that the model framework will be easily replicated, customized, and adapted to other campus communities while informing policy, future research, and practice prior to implementation.

“Institutionalizing prevention and education efforts on gender-based violence has helped us to further cultivate a climate that supports the learning and wellness of all in a safe and respectful environment at NU,” said Dr. Beebe, an associate professor of clinical mental health counseling. “Partnering with The Vincent Commission will help us to advance research on gender-based violence, which highlights the importance of both theory and practice. As a result of this partnership, we hope that NU will serve as a national hub for leading scholarship and resources on prevention and education efforts on gender-based violence.”