FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                        February 27, 2008

NORTHWESTERN NAMES COORDINATOR FOR PROJECT TO REDUCE CRIME AGAINST WOMEN

            As part of a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to benefit the Regional University System of Oklahoma, Northwestern Oklahoma State University has selected Sandra Harmon as coordinator of its Project to Reduce Crime Against Women (PRCAW).

            Aside from East Central University, which serves as the administrator of the program on behalf of RUSO, Northwestern is the first of the schools to have a coordinator in place. Soon all six universities will have coordinators.

            Harmon, who has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northwestern, retired from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services’ Child Welfare Department in 2004. She is a licensed professional counselor, licensed behavioral practitioner and a licensed alcohol and drug counselor.

            She said her first priority is to develop different initiatives for the education about and prevention of violence and will involve both males and females.

             “My job is to raise awareness,” Harmon said, “and to teach what is acceptable and non-acceptable behavior and help restructure social beliefs. This will be a victim-driven program—I will offer help and support and any referrals that are necessary.”

            Harmon said the program will encompass all three of Northwestern’s campuses. PRCAW includes the formation and maintenance of a Community Education Response Team (CERT), coordination of information sharing between response agencies, maintenance of mandatory prevention education programs, provision for specialized CLEET training for campus police, provision of training for Northwestern employees and students and upgrade capital improvements to enhance campus safety.

            The CERT team will involve key people on campus and in the community and have a diverse student representation. The group will meet five times a year to discuss the program.

            Although she only began her job in January, Harmon already has publicized National Stalking Awareness Month and is planning several events for the upcoming National Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April.

She has begun meeting with Ranger Connection classes (required courses for freshmen).  She also will speak at annual Freshman Orientation sessions, and plans to set up meetings with incoming transfer students and current students, as well.

“I will be available to students, faculty and staff in dealing with sexual assault, domestic violence, rape and stalking,” Harmon said.

 “There also are ways friends can help victims and potential victims,” she added. “I want to provide information and training to students so they can help their friends.”

            Other specific items on her agenda include data collection to determine actual statistics and discover what areas are of biggest concern to students. She will look at current policies about violence and sexual assault to see if they need revision.

            Harmon also plans to develop and/or strengthen partnerships with community police departments and district attorney offices. She also will use the media to publicize specific events such as awareness months and other specific points of the program. She will be continuing training with the other RUSO coordinators.

-NW-

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