As dating violence becomes an issue on local and national campuses, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance looks to take a proactive stance on the subject with the implementation of its B.R.A.V.E. Program.
B.R.A.V.E., which stands for “Building Resistance Against Violence Engagement,” is an initiative “developed to raise awareness about, and ultimately end, dating and domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking,” according to the OIE website.
UMES’s B.R.A.V.E. project was created in 2020 as a result of an Office on Violence Against Women Campus Program Grant from the United States Department of Justice. The grant helped establish and implement a Coordinated Community Response Team comprised of faculty, staff, students, and community partners. The OVW Campus Program Grant funds all programming, activities, and educational opportunities about gender-based violence prevention and facilitates other initiatives including the “It’s the consent for me” campaign.
As part of the on-campus initiative, the OIE created videos last semester centering on the issues of consent, stalking, dating violence, and bystander intervention, written by and starring UMES students. The videos were produced by The Brand Digital Media, LLC of Salisbury, a minority-owned production company.
“The students created the scripts, so they know what things are in slang and what somebody would say in that scenario,” Cecilia Rivera, the associate director for prevention, education, training, and compliance at the OIE, said. “We filmed the videos on campus featuring student leaders. We have representation from Student Government, Greek Life, Athletics, and several other student organizations.”
Rivera added that with the inclusion of students in much of the creative aspect of the video, the message will resonate among the student population.
Introducing each video are Mr. UMES, Kamahri Valcourt, and Miss UMES, Sydney Carr, who each saw the video as a great way to inform the student body.
“Some of the key takeaways I got from this experience filming the PSAs were that domestic and dating violence comes in various forms,” Valcourt said. “This experience has taught me how to properly intervene and help others. The choice to be an active bystander can change someone’s life forever.”
“Even with displaying such serious matters, using everyday verbiage and common actions that people often overlook in these instances, better helps students understand what is right and wrong, especially in settings where people may not bat an eye to these actions until they escalate,” Carr said. “Let this be a guide to knowing the signs and helping others.”
Jason Casares, the university’s Title IX Coordinator said, “when it came to the campus’s efforts in being intentional with its proactive nature, they are proud of the work they’ve done so far.”
“We’re moving a needle,” he said. “Ultimately, the goal is to eradicate sexual violence from everywhere, including this campus, but we’re certainly moving the needle towards that goal.”
