Frequently Asked Questions

The office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you stop by and the Prevention Specialist is unavailable, please leave a voicemail or send an email so they can get back to you as soon as possible.

If you’ve contacted the Office of Prevention and Advocacy after hours and are in need of immediate and confidential support, please contact NJCASA (NJ Coalition Against Sexual Assault) at 800-601-7200 or NJCEDV (NJ Coalition to End Domestic Violence) at 800-572-7233. Please visit their websites if you’d like to locate your local domestic or sexual violence organization for confidential resources and information. 

The role of the Prevention Specialist:

• Provides confidential* support to students experiencing interpersonal violence.
• Educates the campus community on topics such as consent, dating and sexual violence, and Title IX.
• Delivers training for staff, faculty, and students on interpersonal violence prevention and campus resources.

*The Office of Prevention and Advocacy is a confidential space, meaning the Prevention Specialist is not required to report any identifying information or allegations of sexual misconduct to the university.

Yes, the Office of Prevention and Advocacy can create a safety plan with you and provide you with a physical copy. This includes helpful information, resources, and space to jot down important contact details in case your phone battery dies. For more information on safety planning, please visit the Office of Prevention and Advocacy in Campus Center, Room 289.

Reach out to the Prevention Specialist if you are interested in becoming involved with the office.

Volunteer Expectations:

• Develop events and create programming on topics of sexual health, consent, healthy relationships, and other related issues.
• Provide input for future social media stories and posts as well as aid in the creation of interactive reels for the office.
• Support the office by volunteering at signature events such as Take Back the Night as well as other activities that run throughout the year.
• Receive training by the Prevention Specialist to have better knowledge on Title IX policies, on-campus resources, as well as trauma-informed language when discussing dating and sexual violence.

Team Meetings:

• Team meetings will depend on volunteer availability. This volunteer team is flexible meaning that meetings will most likely be either bi-weekly or once a month.
• Team meetings will serve to brainstorm ideas, events, and to begin planning.

Important Disclaimers:

• This team does not serve as confidential peer mentors to survivors of dating and sexual violence.
• This team is not required to report any allegations of sexual misconduct to the Title IX Coordinator or Prevention Specialist unless they are a student employee with another department and serving in that capacity at the time of reported allegations (e.g., RA, TA, OL, and Peer Mentor).

Yes! If you are interested in collaborating with the Prevention Specialist or inviting them to present at an event or class, please reach out to the office directly.

It is important to first check in with yourself: What feelings am I experiencing right now as I am provided with this information? Are these feelings clouding my ability to show up for my child? Do I notice myself wanting to interrogate?

As a parent or guardian, learning that your child is experiencing dating or sexual violence can be overwhelming. However, it is essential to remember that this is your child's experience, and they are coming to you for help. Effective support requires active listening, empathy, and unconditional care.

• Avoid biased questioning or jumping to conclusions.
• Provide a safe space where your child can share openly, and offer to help them connect with campus and local resources.
• Reassure your child that you believe them and will support them through every step of their healing process.
• If you want more information and support on this topic, please contact the Prevention Specialist.

You can direct your friend to our resources tab for more information on campus, local, and national services. You can also share information about safety planning. A safety plan helps survivors brainstorm ways to stay safe and reduce the risk of future harm. Both RAINN and the National Domestic Violence Hotline offer interactive safety plans and tips. Remember, one of the most valuable ways you can support your friend is simply by ensuring they feel safe and heard.