Sexual assault prevention programs were discussed at a summit on Illinois Wesleyan's Campus Thursday morning. (Adam Studzinski/WJBC)
By Adam Studzinski
BLOOMINGTON – Representatives from local hospitals, advocacy groups, law enforcement and universities joined for a sexual assault prevention conference on Illinois Wesleyan's campus Thursday morning.
The goal was to strengthen collaborations among community partners. IWU Vice president of student affairs Karla Carney-Hall said there are a lot of people in the community who care about "eradicating sexual assault."
"It's been wonderful to work with people who really want to make a difference in addressing sexual violence in our community both on college campuses and in the greater Bloomington-Normal area," Carney-Hall said.
Illinois State University assistant director for women's and gender studies Stacia Kock explained many who attended were pleasantly surprised at the prevention programs already in the area.
"The responses from universities, from advocacy groups like Stepping Stones, and also from law enforcement," said Kock. "I think people were surprised to hear what is already going on and perhaps surprised to know that they weren't aware of that."
Kock said a great next step is to start talking about prevention.
"And educating people who weren't able to be here today (Thursday) about the services that are in place here," Kock said.
Carney-Hall said a good idea would be the creation of an official coalition of university, hospital, and legal entities aimed at sexual assault prevention.
Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].
