In the wake of last spring's series of sexual assaults near campus, the university has unveiled a new program aimed at identifying unhealthy sexual practices and relationships and providing solutions.
The Prevention, Awareness and Consent at Tufts (P.A.C.T.) program will be run through the Women's Center's Campus Violence Prevention Program and will take advantage of federal funding made available through the Violence Against Women Act, which was reauthorized by President Bush in 2006.
The program will focus specifically on sexual assault, relationship violence and stalking. Started by Campus Violence Prevention Coordinator Elaine Theodore, it will partner with the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC) to achieve these goals.
P.A.C.T. will do this partly through resource distribution; sexual assault hotlines and phone trees, for example, will be promoted.
Another focus will be education about "what constitutes rape culture and the more concrete risk reductions techniques," Theodore said.
Coupled with this will be efforts to correct misperceptions, such as the common belief that most assaults are committed by strangers. Theodore said that, in reality, the vast majority of victims know their attackers.
A final educational aspect will look at bystander issues, as the program seeks to examine the responsibilities and limitations of onlookers during actual or potential assault scenarios. So far, student involvement has been pivotal to the program, especially since many students feel more comfortable talking with peers than with staff members.
"We have been thrilled by the tremendous response of students interested in being part of P.A.C.T.," Senior Director of Health and Wellness Services Michelle Bowdler said in an e-mail to the Daily.
"Peer leadership is so important in addressing the health issues of a college-aged population. I look forward to seeing them succeed," Bowdler wrote.
Many of the students who have become involved in P.A.C.T. were previously a part of "In the S.A.C.K.," an educational program that takes place during freshman orientation.
"The issues raised in 'In the S.A.C.K.' were ... very important, especially in college life," junior and P.A.C.T. member Gil Kim said.
In the upcoming months, program participants will focus on training and programming. One upcoming event will be "Sex Signals," a humorous look at sexual relationships that will take place on Wednesday. It will also examine consent in relationships.
Apart from the programming, P.A.C.T. will also be looking for greater involvement from the community, especially from men.
Theodore emphasized that the program is not just about "women's issues."
"They affect everyone, so engaging men on this campus is a challenging yet vital part of P.A.C.T. We look forward to involving more men who are concerned about healthy sexuality and healthy relationships and who can talk to their peers," she said.
