Barton Announces $40,000 Grant for Kutztown University to Combat Sexual Assault

January 23, 2024

HARRISBURG - Rep. Jamie Barton (R-Berks/Schuylkill) announced the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has awarded Kutztown University $40,000 through its “It’s On Us PA” program. “It’s On Us PA” is a statewide campaign that invites everyone to play a role in ending sexual assault. It brings together college and university presidents, superintendents, administrators, teachers, students, families and community members to reframe the conversation around sexual violence.

“No student should have to go to school scared to become a victim of sexual assault,” Barton said. “Using this money in the right way will go a long way toward solidifying a safe learning environment. Safe learning environments are successful learning environments.”

The grants provide funding from January 2024 through May 2025 to implement strategies on campuses to address goals of the “It’s On Us PA” campaign, which include:

1. Improving awareness, prevention, reporting and response systems regarding sexual violence in schools, colleges and universities to better serve all students.

2. Removing or reducing barriers that prevent survivors of sexual violence from reporting incidents or accessing vital resources by creating a more consistent, empowering reporting process for student survivors.

3. Demonstrating significant, proactive and sustainable leadership to change campus culture by challenging Pennsylvania’s education leaders – including college and university presidents – as well as students, teachers, faculty, staff, families and communities to pledge to improve their institutions’ climates.

Rep. Jamie Barton
124th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jake Gillespie
717.772.9834
JGillespie@pahousegop.com
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