St. Mary’s offers a variety of programs and initiatives to educate our community and raise awareness of Title IX and sexual harassment issues.
- Bringing in the Bystander– This interactive program allows participants to develop and practice bystander intervention prevention skills in-person or virtually. BITB approaches all community members as potential bystanders or witnesses to risky situations and teaches prosocial (positive, appropriate, and safe) ways to prevent or intervene. Bringing in the Bystander is one of the few programs of its kind that has been scientifically evaluated and demonstrated to be an effective prevention program, satisfying many grant requirements. These sessions are offered to the SMCM community on an as needed basis.
- A Call to Men– A Call to Men offers an invitation to explore ideas about manhood, women, and girls that have been shaped by collective socialization. The program offers a counter-narrative to messages from media and popular culture that tell us that women are objects, property, and have less value than men. These sessions are offered 3 days every semester to the SMCM community.
- One Love– One Love empowers young people with the tools and resources they need to see the signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships and bring life-saving prevention education to their communities. This programming is offered to students in a small group setting on a rolling basis throughout other awareness months.
- Campus Safety Month– Each year SMCM along with other colleges and universities across the nation recognize Campus Safety Awareness Month. The goal is bring attention to the issue of safety on campus and provide opportunities to encourage public conversation about violence prevention at our nation’s colleges and universities. It also offers an opportunity to address the background of campus safety areas and to share information about an institution’s campus safety programs. SMCM recognizes campus safety awareness in September and January of each semester.
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month– Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) was launched nationwide in October 1987 as a way to connect and unite individuals and organizations working on domestic violence issues while raising awareness for those issues. SMCM recognizes DVAM through partnerships with our local community agencies. These partnerships include hosting awareness and recognition events throughout the month specific to domestic violence.
- Stalking Awareness Month– Stalking is its own crime with its own risks, safety planning needs, and legal responses. Each year professionals around the country answer the call to action to recognize and mitigate stalking across the country. Nearly 13.5 million people experience stalking in some form. SMCM recognizes these numbers are staggering and help to bring awareness to the SMCM campus community through varies events and activities throughout the month.
- Teen Dating Violence Month– Each February, young adults and their loved ones across the nation raise awareness about the issue of teen dating violence through Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM). This annual, month-long effort focuses on advocacy and education to stop dating abuse before it starts. SMCM recognizes the month through partnerships with our local community agencies that bring awareness and recognition events specific to healthy and unhealthy relationships.
- Sexual Assault Awareness Month– Is held annually each April to bring awareness to sexual assault and the individuals impacted by it every year. Like the other awareness months, individuals who experience assault often deal with years of healing after the traumatic event. SMCM recognizes this month by providing opportunities to voice their support as well as recognize those impacted directly.