Letter: URI Peer Advocate says resources available for sexual assault victims

02/15/08 - To the Cigar, Although we appreciate any attention that can be brought to the issues of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking, the letter written in Tuesday's issue of the Cigar, "URI graduate student says more should be done for sexual assault victims," is written from an extremely uninformed perspective. The letter claims resources are lacking at this university. The graduate student is correct in saying that her lack of involvement in student life influences her perspective. The URI Peer Advocates, run through the Violence Prevention and Advocacy Services program, is a dynamic and diverse group of 30 undergraduate and graduate students who work with victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking on campus.

These same students have taken on a personal mission to help inform and educate the URI campus of these issues. They represent numerous athletic teams, fraternities, sororities and student groups.

In 2006, the Peer Advocates were recognized with the A. Robert Rainville Award, which is given for group leadership. That same year they were honored with national recognition, winning the award for Outstanding Student Programming for Violence Prevention on a College Campus. Most recently, just last week, they were the recipients of the Martin Luther King Jr. Award for Peace and Nonviolence, which is given by the URI Chaplains Association.

As the writer's letter states, her previous college had a hotline number. The Peer Advocates also have an informational phone line, and that number is (401) 874-9293. In addition to that there is an informational e-mail address, which is peerinfo@etal.uri.edu. Both of these are staffed on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Along with those resources, there are numerous outreach programs run by the Peer Advocates. All freshmen see a health and safety presentation on domestic violence, sexual assault and date rape drugs by two peer advocates as part of their URI 101 class.

The Peer Advocates also run "The Vagina Monologues," the White Ribbon Campaign, the Silent Witness March and the These Hands Don't Hurt Program. These programs have been chronicled in the Cigar, tallying more than eight articles last year and four thus far this year, with a fifth coming later this week depicting the production of "The Vagina Monologues."

The directors of Violence Prevention and Advocacy Services have been instrumental in making the URI campus more aware of domestic violence and sexual assault. Their everyday tasks include providing individual advocacy to victims, conducting more than 200 interactive presentations annually, working with the Peer Advocates and teaching a class regarding domestic violence, sexual assault and violence against women in society.

Again, we truly appreciate any and all attention paid to domestic violence and sexual assault on our campus and in society. We are grateful for the writer's concern for the subject, however, there are numerous resources available and advertised on our campus.

Any victims of these horrific crimes are encouraged to come to the Women's Center or contact the Peer Info Line. Thanks to the overwhelming support of the faculty, staff and especially the administration on campus - including the president, vice president, athletic director and dean of students - we have a successful program at URI that seven years ago did not exist.



Ryan McCarthy

URI Peer Advocate