Leading association for health, sustainability recognizes university’s efforts
South Carolina was ranked second in the nation for the number of women murdered by men this year — and USC is doing its part to change that.
Stand Up Carolina, a university-sponsored campaign focusing on bystander accountability and preventing interpersonal violence, received the bronze Excellence Award from NASPA, a national student affairs association.
Stand Up Carolina seeks to help combat violence in general as well as the climbing number of murders in the state after it rose in rank of murders of women by men increased from seventh place in 2011 and eighth in 2010.
Created last year, the campaign is offered through the university’s Student Health Services Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention and Prevention (SAVIP).
All entries were judged on a wide variety of requirements, such as the relevance to institutional mission, collaboration with academic affairs, originality and creativity, demonstration of success in addressing student needs and critical campus issues and effective use of technology and other resources.
After receiving many applications from across the country, NASPA chose the top three programs, and the Stand Up Carolina campaign won the third-place award.
The award has the potential to further the program’s success, according to Student Health Services spokeswoman Nicole Carrico.
“For us what is important is that it demonstrates that it is an effective program,” she said. “It also demonstrates that the larger student affairs community, nationwide, thinks that what we’re doing is really outstanding.”
The initiative involves training faculty and staff to be aware of signs of interpersonal violence and offering a plethora of information to students.
Stand Up Carolina also works under SAVIP to assist in the Domestic Violence Awareness, Stalking Awareness and Sexual Assault Awareness campaigns in October, January and April.
Carrico mentioned that no formal ceremony has been held yet for the presentation of the award, but it can be expected very soon.
She hopes that USC will become a leader in violence prevention.
“We hope that other people from other campuses will contact us because of this award, and we can start a conversation about sexual assault and violence prevention and bystander accountability,” Carrico said.
Nominations are now being taken for the annual Hero Awards, which recognize accountable bystander students, faculty and staff.
Nominations will be accepted through March 1, 2013, and all nominees will be recognized on March 27.