September 1, 2016
TO: President Tony Frank
FROM: Sue James on behalf of the President’s Commission on Women and Gender Equity
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Promptly Provide More Resources to the Women and Gender Advocacy Center (WGAC)
Background
The WGAC provides programs and resources focusing on all genders, social justice, and interpersonal violence prevention. Additionally, WGAC provides advocacy and support for victims of sexual violence, stalking, sexual harassment and relationship violence. In the past 6 years WGAC has seen a dramatic rise in the number of survivors served (see figure). Whether this is due to an increase in overall student population on campus, an increase in incidences, increased reporting and awareness (WGAC continue to widely promote their services), other circumstances or some combination thereof, WGAC clearly needs more resources to better serve the large number of survivors coming through their doors.