Student Training Orientation and Prevention is a program that educates students on sexual assault prevention. The focus of the STOP Violence Program is to raise awareness and promote prevention.
Sexual assault is an issue at the UW, Jules Arthur, Student Training Orientation and Prevention Violence Program Coordinator, said. The reported cases are much lower, she added.
Arthur said the majority of the violent cases are against women, but men are also assaulted.
“One in 33 men will be assaulted on campus in their lifetime,” Arthur said.
Fisher reported that SAFE Project had worked with an increased amount of victims.
STOP Violence Program also serves as a victims advocate for the issue of domestic violence.
She encourages those who also have questions to visit the program’s offices.
Arthur also recommended using the program as a channel for other resources when regarding sexual abuse or domestic abuse.
However, STOP is not the only program in the Laramie area.
“We have programs outside of the campus called SAFE,” Arthur said.
SAFE, the Sexual Assault and Family violence Educational project, located at 319 Lincoln St., is a place for victims of sexual abuse.
“In 2010 SAFE Project worked with 11 victims. However, from Jan. 1–Oct. 31 of this year we’ve already worked with 13 victims,” Becca Fisher, Outreach Coordinator for Albany County SAFE Project, said.
According to a SAFE pamphlet, the goal of the organization is to eradicate violence at any level. They have many different features that help victims of domestic violence, rape, stalking and incest.
When dealing with a victim of sexual abuse there was no specific way to handle the situation, Fisher said. Dealing with sexual abuse is not routine.
There is never a ‘normal routine’ because each situation is different and the way the victim deals with it is different, Fisher said.
“SAFE Project advocates are there to listen to the victim, help determine their immediate needs, talk about their options in regards to medical treatment and the legal system, and safety.”
Among the chief concerns is the safety of men and women, Fischer said.
“SAFE Project also has very strict confidentiality standards,” Fisher said. “So if someone does identify themselves as a victim, we do not share that information with anyone without the victims explicit written permission.”
SAFE’s services are free and confidential.