The Department of Justice recently awarded the University of South Dakotaa $300,000 grant to further its sexual assault prevention and awareness programs.
Officials say CARE, which stands for Coyotes Advocate, Respond and Educate to Stop Violence works to reduce sexual assault crimes and increase victim support through community efforts.
Kim Grieve is dean of students at USD. She says the three year program is different than others already in place.
“This will augment that particular programming by really getting out there and talking with not only our campus community but also the community of Vermillion as well so continuing the conversation around sexual assault prevention, around interpersonal behaviors, around bystander training,” says Grieve.
The CARE committee is made up of 20 USD members and four from outside the university, including Sanford Health Vermillion and the Clay County States Attorney’s office.
Grieve says with CARE to Stop Violence at USD in place students can expect to see an all-around increase in sexual assault prevention and awareness efforts.
“Well they’ll certainly see new programming that will be there, they’ll see more marketing materials that will be out and they’ll also just get more information about what’s going on on our campus,” says Grieve.
Grieve says after three years she hopes USD can continue to implement CARE’s goals.