
Quick Facts:
- Originally titled “Real Men and Real Women,” The S.A.F.E.R. program was born in Fall 1996 and housed in Peer Health Education.
- On July 1st 1999, S.A.F.E.R. moved from the Health Center to the Women’s Center to increase collaboration with Women’s Programs and Services.
- On February 14th 2011, the Women’s Center changed its title to the Gender Equity Center and now housed Safer, Women’s Programs, and the new Men and Masculinity Programs.
- In the summer of 2011, Safer became a stand-alone program in Student Life and Leadership.
- The name was changed from the acronym Sexual Assault Free Environment Resource (S.A.F.E.R.) to Safer and became a part of the Dean of Students department.
- Safer now focuses on educating students on sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and bystander intervention.
- Safer offers short term crisis counseling, advocacy, and accompaniments.
The Red Handprint:
The Red Handprint campaign was present on Cal Poly’s campus for many years. When a sexual assault was reported to Safer, a red handprint would be painted in that location on campus, with handprints appearing in front of buildings, dormitories and other gathering places on campus. This was to signify how pervasive this issue was and is on campus.
While no red handprints can be found on the ground today at Cal Poly, a memorial can be found in the University Union next to the Sandwich Factory dining hall.
Gone But Not Forgotten
Safer’s creation was sparked by the loss of three local young women to gender based violence.
kristIn smart | |
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rachel newhouse | |
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aundria crawford | |
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