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Women's Independent Scholarship Prgoram (WISP):
Helping Survivors of Intimate Partner Abuse Obtain anan Education

The Women’s Center’s vision of social justice emphasizes the creation of communities where all women are free from violence, whether it is physical, emotional, or psychological, and all forms of power and control. Our Violence Prevention Program is the cornerstone of our work to assist campus and community members in building and maintaining healthy relationships free from violence and control. Our primary focus is working with men to address the underlying causes of violence and to create communities with the tools and knowledge to not only support victims of violence, but also to actively foster non-violence through dialogue and accountability. We also work to educate individuals and communities about the realities and prevalence of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Prevention of violence begins with education and awareness, which empowers individuals to make choices in their lives and relationships that

reflect self-respect and respect for partners and friends.

We provide the following programs and services:

A Violence Prevention Resource Center , located in the Women’s Center Library in Cunningham Hall, which includes information and resources on immediate services available for survivors of violence (on and off campus), information to aid survivors in their healing process, and information about healthy relationships and warning signs of abuse, as well as research resources on violence issues.

Educational Workshops and Training on Relationship Violence, Sexual Assault, and

Stalking: The Women’s Center provides trainings and workshops open to students and staff and arranges with individual departments to do on-site trainings.

Educational Events: During 2007 Women’s History Month celebrations, the Women’s Center offered two Self Empowerment & Protection Classes, as well as a lecture titled, “Surviving History: Rising Above Violence, Where Do We Go from Here?” featuring Ginny Nicarthy. In addition, we did a Spring Quarter Film Series featuring two documentaries: Tough Guise with discussion facilitated by the Men’s Network Against Domestic Violence and No! the rape documentary with discussion facilitated by Communities Against Rape & Abuse.

Advocacy: Women’s Center staff provided information and referral, as well as assistance to individuals in navigating services and resources on and off campus.