Ending violence against women on college campuses: Prevention and leadership at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs)

Forms of violence including stalking, harassment, domestic violence and sexual assault among young women on college campuses has been documented as growing public health concern, specifically at Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU's). Young African-American women attending HBCUs are at increased risk of severe violence, primarily because they have limited information and limited resources to increase their safety. The Ending Violence Against Women (EVAW) at HBCU pilot project development, planning, implementation and evaluation of this project will be discussed. The project included: 1) the development of a culturally competent bystander approach, 2) utilized social marketing techniques and new media, 2) tailored curriculum and training development for student organizations, campus police and residential staff to increase awareness and knowledge on how to respond to gender-based violence against female students; and 3) establishment of an on-campus student task force to develop policies and recommendations for a coordinated campus response to end violence against women at six HBCUs in the United States. This presentation will cover: 1) the background work involved in establishing a pilot project to address violence against women at HBCUs, specifically the sustainability of violence prevention and health promotion policies and resources on campus, 2) early successes and challenges, and 3) a tailored social marketing campaign to increase extra-curricular involvement of students in hosting peer-to-peer anti-violence programs. Lessons learned from this project will hopefully be of used to other colleges or universities contemplating and/or initiating such violence prevention initiatives, focused on collegiate women.