More than a year after the R.A.P.E. Center changed its name to the Advocacy Center, it is still working to raise awareness about its new name and broader goals.

One of the ways the Advocacy Center has attempted to raise awareness in the past is through posters placed in dormitory bathrooms.

“I live in Marion Hall and there is a poster in every stall about the Advocacy Center,” said Duane Ford, a sophomore policy studies major.

Many of these older posters still instruct students to call the R.A.P.E Center. As part of the rebranding process, a committee was formed to design a new sticker with the Advocacy Center name emblazoned across it, Janet Epstein, director of the Advocacy Center, said in an email.

“These new stickers are now available and we will be working to get those up in bathrooms across all areas of campus,” Epstein said.

The Advocacy Center, located in the lower level of the Syracuse University Health Services building on 111 Waverly Ave., looks to provide support, information, assistance and advocacy for students who have been impacted by sexual or relationship violence, according to the Advocacy Center website.

Faculty members and students have said the new name is more welcoming and better reflects the center’s broadened mission.

“We have noticed that students are much more comfortable referring to the Advocacy Center by name than they were with the R.A.P.E. Center name,” Epstein said.

There has also been an increase in students seeking assistance related to relationship abuse, Epstein said.

Samantha Sloan, a sophomore television, radio and film and Spanish major, said she thinks the new name is more politically correct.

“It is less rash than the R.A.P.E Center; however, the name isn’t quite as clear anymore,” she said.

A student volunteer marketing committee was formed in the hopes of increasing awareness about the Advocacy Center’s goal and promoting the name change. Last semester, the committee created new posters to be placed around campus. Volunteers also periodically table in the Schine Atrium and Goldstein Student Center, Epstein said.

Along with the name change, more services have been added to the Advocacy Center. Workshops are held to educate the public about domestic violence, and also include information on healthy relationships, respectful behavior, recognizing warning signs and supporting friends and family in abusive relationships, Epstein said.

While the rebranding process has brought about new services, the traditional student volunteer process is the same. Students train to become peer facilitators through the Mentors in Violence Prevention Program, which introduces students to the empowered bystander approach to interpersonal violence prevention, Epstein said.

Said Epstein: “These Advocacy Center peer educators are also working to inform students throughout campus about the Advocacy Center name change, services and programs.”

Published on September 20, 2012 at 12:40 am

Contact Levi: ldstei01@syr.edu