Gender Violence Prevention Flagship Grant
Since 2007, ISU has been collaborating with Iowa's other Regents universities in a $1 million flagship grant project to reduce gender violence on campus. The grant, funded by the the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women, is used to train students, faculty and staff to prevent and respond to gender violence.
Grant work is coordinated through the Vice President for Student Affairs office and a campus-wide committee with representatives from:
- Judicial Affairs
- Margaret Sloss Women's Center
- Department of Residence
- Thielen Student Health Center
- New Student Programs
- Department of Public Safety
- Story County Sexual Assault Response Team
- community partner ACCESS (Assault Care Center Extending Shelter and Support)
On ISU's campus, one major initiative of the grant is to create a forum theatre troupe, the Catalyst Theatre Company, to perform for incoming students during Destination Iowa State each fall. The performances utilize interactive techniques to educate students about how to stay safe from sexual assault, harassing behavior, and stalking, and how to intervene when they see others in compromised positions. Catalyst Theatre actors participate in semester-long training through the spring semester. In August 2008, the group offered seven performances for more than 1,200 incoming students.
Learn more about the Catalyst Theater events happening in 2009.
