Penn State receives $60,000 grant for sexual assault, harassment, violence prevention
The Gender Equity Center first received a grant from the It’s On Us campaign in 2021
Central PA Delegation April 4, 2024 | 1:02 PM
STATE COLLEGE, Jan. 23 – Today, Reps. Scott Conklin and Paul Takac, both D-Centre, announced the Department of Education awarded a grant to Pennsylvania State University to prevent sexual assault, harassment and violence on campus.
PDE awarded the $60,000 grant from the It’s On Us PA campaign, which works to prevent sexual assault, harassment and violence at Pennsylvania colleges, universities, and post-secondary career and trade schools. The grant will assist with assessing the risks of sexual violence, increasing reporting and responses to sexual violence, and creating materials to inform students on reporting sexual harassment and violence.
“With one in five women and one in 16 men being sexually assaulted while pursuing higher education, we must work to prevent sexual assault, harassment and violence on campus so that students feel safe on campus,” Conklin said. “It is on us, as state legislators, and faculty and staff at Penn State, to lead by example so that students feel supported on campus. With this funding from PDE, we’ll support sexual violence prevention and support survivors on campus. As state representative for the 77th Legislative District, I remain committed to advocating for victims of sexual violence.”
“As the parent of two children currently attending college, this is an issue that is deeply personal for me and for so many other families across our commonwealth and our country,” Takac said. “Everyone deserves a campus community and experience free from sexual assault and harassment. Unfortunately, that is not the reality for far too many young people. This grant will support the ongoing work of those at Penn State and in our community who dedicate countless hours to help prevent sexual assault and the lifelong damage that it can have on the lives of students.”
“This funding is a tremendous step forward in helping those who are traumatized by sexual harassment or sexual violence, to explore resources, including the reporting process, in the privacy and security of their own space, in their own time, and with any chosen support systems,” said Amber Grove, Penn State’s Title IX coordinator. “Making these resources accessible and simple to navigate can be the difference between coming forward or simply trying to handle the situation on their own. This is particularly true for our underrepresented and marginalized students, who may have cultural barriers that discourage engagement with reporting.”
The Obama administration first created the It’s On Us campaign to raise awareness about sexual assault.
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