What We Do

As a liaison for University Police the Center for Non-Violence and Peace Initiatives has worked in a collaboratively with faculty, staff and students to:

• Identify the causes of individual and global violence in addition to the most effective responses to these forms of violence.

• Develop knowledge, skills, and tools that will encourage behaviors supportive of equality, respect, non-violence and peace initiatives.

• Implement effective preventions and interventions that will reduce all forms of violence on campus.

• Raise awareness regarding all forms of violence (e.g., interpersonal, intrapersonal, national, global, environmental).

• Provide advocacy and resource assistance to victims of violence.
  
  
• Create efficient learning opportunities for perpetrators of violence that encourage behavioral changes.

Furthermore, the CNVPI housed a $250k grant to reduce violence against women on college campuses from the United States Department of Justice. The grant primarily focused on providing services to Black/African American, Latina, international, and lesbian women. This grant provided specific funding for programming, outreach, and training that focuses on raising awareness, providing educational, social, and psychological resources regarding violence against women.   One unique aspect of this initiative is the Real Men of MSU campaign, an ongoing project without the DOJ funds.  This campaign is modeled after the Social Norms Theory, where the campus community was asked to nominate men from the university who they felt has made a difference and/or has taken a stand against violence towards women.  These men are then selected to be used as positive role models for the campaign that includes a calendar, posters and ad in the college newspaper, The Montclarion.  Last year’s campaign consisted of a diverse group of men that represented power, influential male role models, including; professors, athletes, social activists, Greek organizations, artists, and law enforcement.  During the fall of 2006 the Center along with MSU were the only ones to receive the Jean Clery award in the country for its efforts in campus safety and ending violence against women.