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PACT grant received by Clarion University/PASSAGES

First row picture sitting : Sharae Powell, Amanda Kunz, Jolene Weisner; Second: Desirea Fordham, Marcie LaBelle (PASSAGES Intern), Megan Harrison, Marlene Autin (PASSAGES Educator), Elijah Daubenspeck

Six Clarion University students have begun training to serve as peer educators to help prevent gender-based violence thanks to a grant received by PASSAGES Inc. in partnership with the Clarion University Women’s Studies Program and Public Safety.

The pilot project, Promoting Awareness of the College Transition (P.A.C.T), was developed to assist students transitioning from high school to college, understand the dynamics of gender–based violence. This transition can be both exciting and overwhelming as students meet new people, immerse themselves in a new environment, and begin a new phase of their academic career. It can also be dangerous. In fact, the first three months of college have been labeled “the red zone” due to a particularly high incidence of sexual assaults occurring during this time period.

The P.A.C.T model was developed and expanded through a partnership between the Jane Kopas Women’s Center in Scranton and the University of Scranton. Marlene Austin, PASSAGES Educator and Corp. Gregg Smith, Clarion University Public Safety officer who attended a training offered by these organizations were impressed with their outcomes resulting in the effort to bring the program to Clarion University.

P.A.C.T. fits within the mission of PASSAGES Inc., which is to work to eliminate all forms of sexual violence through education, prevention and advocacy for the rights and needs of survivors.

Austin, Smith, and Dr. Deborah Burghardt, director of Women’s Studies at Clarion University, will serve as the mentors for the program.

Austin, along with Marcie LaBelle, a PASSAGES intern, will provide the 12 hour training program where students learn to facilitate exploratory discussions with their peers about gender-based violence and are supplied with manuals and drug-related sexual violence demonstration kits. Topics covered include psychological abuse, battering, stalking, and sexual assault in intimate relationships, drug induced rape, healthy relationships, gendered safety precautions and social change strategies.

The facilitators, with mentors present, will conduct six discussions with entering students in various venues during the fall 2008 semester.

Clarion University students working to completing the training include:

Sharae Powell, a junior psychology major, a daughter of Nicole Pugh of Pittsburgh and a graduate of Taylor Allderdice High School.

Amanda Kunz, a sophomore English major, is from Pittsburgh and is a graduate of Shaler High School.

Jolene Wiesner, a sophomore psychology major, a daughter of Cole and Sharon Wiesner of St. Marys and a graduate of St. Marys High School.

Desirea Fordham, a sophomore psychology major, a daughter of Regina Malizio of Carnegie and a graduate of Perry Traditional Academy.

Megan Harrison, a junior psychology major, a daughter of Sue Harrison of Jackson Center and a graduate of Lakeview High School.

Elijah Daubenspeck, a junior psychology major, a son of Melissa Daubenspeck of Franklin and a graduate of Franklin High School.

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