For 25 years, has provided confidential advocacy to students, faculty and staff who have been impacted by interpersonal violence, sexual assault and stalking, in addition to providing prevention education.

UofL News talked with PEACC Director Tish Pletcher, who has been with the organization 10 years, about how PEACC continues to make a positive impact on the campus community.

UofL News: How would you define the core mission of PEACC?

Pletcher: We say our mission to pursue excellent and inclusive service has two primary parts: First, we work to end power-based personal violence by providing the campus community with the tools and support to make that happen through the programming. Second, we advocate for anyone affected by sexual assault, partner violence and stalking on individual, organizational and public levels through our services. With statistics like 1:3, 1:4 and 1:10, all of us know people affected by power-based personal violence.

UofL News: For 25 years, PEACC has been there for staff, faculty and students who need assistance. What kind of changes have been the most significant in that time? How has the issue evolved?

Pletcher: Our vision and mission have remained consistent, but our work is deepening.ĚýWith our intervention, we are moving beyond crisis response to include multiple doors of access for survivors to address their trauma. We offer trauma informed yoga, meditation walks, writing workshops, a survivor network – you name it! These are all research-based approaches that might be helpful to a survivor after assault or intimate partner violence. It’s our job to offer as many of these as possible.

One way the issue itself has evolved is that we are no longer just talking about the violence, but all the life factors that a person might face with this issue.

UofL News: Prevention education programming is a core aspect of PEACC. Can you tell us more about prevention efforts and how allies can help in those efforts? 

Pletcher: We have shifted our focus from the victim and perpetrator to bystanders. We teach students, faculty and staff to recognize warning signs of intimate partner violence, stalking and sexual assault, and how they can respond. That might be to directly check in with a person, cause a distraction in the moment, or even delegate to someone else. It doesn’t matter what a person does; it just matters that they do something. If we as bystanders know what to do to step in and intervene, we can significantly impact the rates of violence on our campus.

UofL News: What societal or political factors affect the issue of interpersonal violence?

Pletcher: Funding. Resources. Politics and policies. Systems change (or lack thereof). Oppression in all its forms. I could go on and on.

UofL News: What is still disheartening? What is encouraging? 

Pletcher: It is disheartening every time another person walks in for services, and to hear the stories of people continuing to hurt other people.ĚýWhat’s encouraging is seeing all the people on campus who say “I want to help, I believe in doing my part, and I’m here for it.” Seeing them come out to a Green Dot Dodgeball Contest, join Men of PEACC for a Lunch & Learn, invite us to their RSO, walk a friend or classmate into our office to talk to an advocate. It makes my heart happy.

Another encouragement is the survivors who walk through our doors.ĚýThey never, ever cease to amaze me. I learn something from them every day and I’m a better human being because of them.ĚýThey make PEACC what it is.

“It seemed like something really important to be educated about,” said Meadows, a student success ambassador with UofL’s Student Success Center.

A comprehensive strategy called focuses on preventing sexual violence, dating violence and stalking. Changing campus norms by empowering bystanders to take action is a big part of the program’s goal, says Kathleen Elsherif, program coordinator for Green Dot and the .

“Combating power-based personal violence is a public health issue, and we all have a role to play. Green Dot gives faculty, staff and students shared language and a shared understanding of the small choices we can each make every day to change our culture – we say that no one has to do everything, but everyone has to do something,” Elsherif said.

A key component of creating this community is through campus-wide campaigns, mobilization events and targeted bystander intervention trainings that teach the model: direct, distract or delegate. A direct intervention involves a bystander confronting a situation to stop it, the second strategy aims to create some type of distraction to diffuse what’s happening, while delegating enlists the help of someone else, perhaps a friend or if necessary, police.

“The main takeaway from the training for me is whether I use my voice, behavior or attitude to promote safety it doesn’t matter – what matters is that I step up and help those around me,” said Meadows, an early elementary education major.

It’s been seven years since Green Dot trainings have been offered at UofL, as additional campus buy-in and resources were needed to continue and upscale the initiative. When the program relaunched this past spring semester, Elsherif says they started with student influencers, which included Meadows.

This fall,  have been extended to individual schools and departments, along with faculty and staff. Although the PEACC Center manages the program, there are now more than 20 members of the Green Dot initiative across UofL’s campuses.

“It is so important to become aware of the Green Dot initiative because in college we sometimes find ourselves or others in uncomfortable and maybe toxic situations. If you know about Green Dot, then you might have ways to get out of those situations,” Meadows said. “The training can give you some great tips and resources to use for yourself or to help others.”

The ranking has a comprehensive definition of student security, including student health and well-being. College Choice includes specific ratings for general safety, anti-discrimination, women’s safety, party scene and fire safety.

No other Kentucky college was mentioned in College Choice’s top 50 list, highlighting UofL’s unique and concerted effort to promote campus safety in this state through the  program. CardSafe is a multifaceted approach to addressing the safety needs of not only our students, but our faculty, staff, and visitors through the following programs:

1. The L Trail: This well-lit, patrolled route promotes safe travels from the middle of Belknap Campus to the Swain Student Activities Center, the Ville Grill, and to some of the affiliated residence halls. When you’re out walking, follow the white signs with the large red “L.” See for the L Trail route.

2. CardGuard: With this mobile app, you can instantly dial 911 or , send a tip if you see a crime happening, or set a timer to alert your friends and police if you are late in arriving to a pre-determined destination.Ěý

3. UofL Alerts: All UofL students, faculty and staff should sign up for UofL Alerts, which will send you a text message in case of an emergency on campus. It’s also the fastest way to hear about snow days and other weather cancellations. (All members of the UofL family receive UofL Alerts emails, but you must sign up for the text service). You can add a second phone number or family members’ phones to the system or .Ěý

4. Campus Escort: When walking on campus during the evening hours, you should walk with another person and use well-lit, well-traveled routes like the L Trail. But that’s not always possible. If you get stuck out late at night studying or working on campus and don’t want to walk alone, request an escort. This service is provided for any member of the university community from dusk to dawn any day of the year. Escort Service boundaries on Belknap extend within the campus, to University Park Apartments and up to four blocks off campus. At the Health Sciences Center, escorts also are available to the parking lots or nearby vehicles. Call 502-852-6111.

5. Cardinal Safety App: This phone app offers tips on how to respond to emergencies ranging from an active shooter to an earthquake. It also offers tips on how to avoid becoming a victim and preventing thefts, as well as what steps to take if a crime occurs. This app also includes Belknap, HSC and Shelbyhurst campus maps and an auto-dialer to 911, the University Police and the campus escort service.Ěý

6. Green Dot: Sponsored by our PEACC Center, the Green Dot Bystander Campaign is our community response to violence. A Green Dot highlights a behavior, choice, or statement that makes it less likely that someone will experience sexual assault, partner violence, and stalking. More information about .  

7. Campus Shuttle: Need to get from one side of campus to the other? The university operates a shuttle Monday-Friday from Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium to sites around Belknap Campus. The West Campus Shuttle connects the residence halls to the main campus Monday-Friday evenings. And the Health Sciences Campus shuttle circulates to many of the key buildings on and around HSC. Find more information .

8. If You See Something, Say Something: Students, faculty and staff play a role in keeping our campus safe. UofL is part of the If You See Something, Say Something national campaign that encourages citizens to report suspicious objects or behaviors. If you see something suspicious, call UofL Police at 502-852-6111.

9. UofL Police: The UofL Police Department is a fully accredited force that serves UofL’s three campuses 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The department consists of about 45 sworn officers, 30 security guards, and a K-9 unit. (Look for Sampson, a black Labrador, training around campus.) ULPD patrols all UofL campuses on foot, bicycles and ATVs, as well as patrol vehicles. The university fire marshal also is part of ULPD. Find out more about ULPD, including updates on new initiatives and the latest crime reports, .Ěý