This year is the 20th anniversary of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act Month.   This month is a time for all of us to reflect on and celebrate successes in addressing challenges that affect the safety of our campus community.

This year’s theme is: Coming Together to Strengthen Campus Communities.  This theme embodies the collaborative efforts local rape crisis have with local campus communities.  While we often think of campus communities as an enclosed and safe environment, we recognize that no campus is immune from the same crime problems that face the rest of the nation. 

RAINN.org puts out the following statistics: 

·         Nationally, 1 in 4 college women will be sexually assaulted during her academic career

·         21% to 53% of college students have experienced at least once incident of dating violence

·         13% of college women have been stalked since the school year began (2000 National College

·         Along with health problems, academic issues, and arrests, 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes each year

In 2005, Security on Campus, Inc. (a national non-profit group dedicated to promoting campus safety) established National Campus Safety Awareness Month increase awareness about these campus safety challenges in hopes of reducing victimization and creating campus environments that do not tolerate any crimes but which do create a climate of support for those who are victims of sexually based crimes.  

The Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault is a local rape crisis center in central Virgina that works to create a safer and more supportive campus for all campus community members. RCASA offers:  The Red Flag Campaign, Take Back the Night Events, The White Ribbon Campaign and other events.  RCASA collaborates with Student Anti-Violence Educators (SAVE) at local colleges/universities.    

Honor National Campus Safety Awareness Month and commit to programs that will raise awareness of crucial safety topics. 

Pledge to raising aware about rights of crime victims on campus. 

Provide information and support to students surrounding safety issues.  

Commit to support victims of crime and holding offenders accountable. 

Commit to creating an ongoing climate of support for those who have been victimized.