UNCW highlights sexual assault resources available on and off campus

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and the University of North Carolina Wilmington is highlighting available campus and community resources.

UNCW’s CARE program—short for Collaboration for Assault Response and Education—is hosting a series of events throughout the month. The focus is on prevention, support services, and awareness.

Tania Smith, lead advocate with CARE, says the office provides a range of confidential support options for students.

“We are there to provide wrap-around support, 24-hour crisis intervention, safety planning, connection to resources, and then just really walking alongside someone every step of the way,” Smith said.

According to Smith, the CARE office works with students throughout the academic year—not just in April.

“We have students who help us create the campus culture that we want to see, so we go into classrooms and do tabling’s, we do awareness-raising events—all kinds of things that will help create a campus culture where we are active bystanders in trying to stop these things before they even happen.”

CARE was founded in 2005 and is located on the first floor of DePaolo Hall. The office accepts walk-ins and scheduled appointments.

“Or maybe making no decision… but ultimately having the space to have a confidential resource and ask all those questions to someone who has the expertise and the knowledge of what these systems look like,” Smith added.

The program also works with local organizations, including Coastal Horizons’ Rape Crisis Center. Chelsea Croom, program director, says the partnership allows for extended support services both on and off campus.

“They are more focused on campus, and we are the community catch-all. So we do 24/7 crisis response—that can be in the hospital when someone presents that they’ve experienced sexual violence or via the phone. We have a 24-hour crisis line similar to CARE. They do both of those as well,” Croom said.

Croom also pointed to national data when discussing the importance of having services available for college students.

“Statistics show that between ages of 18–34 are the highest rates of sexual violence in adults. And so, having that resource on campus to not only provide advocacy and support but also—they can help navigate the system for students.”

She said both organizations share a similar approach to working with survivors.

“Both of our agencies start by believing them, and I think that’s just a really important thing for survivors to recognize—that we are a resource for them in whatever capacity they need.”

UNCW will also participate in Denim Day on Wednesday, April 30. The annual event encourages individuals to wear jeans as a symbol of support for survivors of sexual assault.