University of Richmond Athletics
Chemotti, UR Play Leadership Role In Fostering Safer Campus
08/06/2015 | General, Men's Lacrosse, Academic Services
The University of Richmond is proud to announce it has been selected to join 12 other campuses in launching the Healthy Masculinity Campus Athletics Project (HMCAP), a year-long initiative funded through the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence against Women Campus Technical Assistance and Resource Project.
Head men's lacrosse coach Dan Chemotti, Assistant Athletic Director for Academics Bruce Matthews and Richmond College Dean Joe Boehman will attend an intensive three day training conference emphasizing athletics' leadership on social justice issues and how male athletes, coaches, and athletic administrators can role model the prosocial norms of healthy masculinity to foster healthier and safer campuses.
The conference is set for Monday through Wednesday August 10-13 in Washington, DC. “We're working with other campus offices to present programming during the upcoming year that we will develop at this conference,” said Matthews. “It's important to have input from coaches – so, we are very grateful to Coach Chemotti that he will attend and offer his perspective and ideas. We're hoping to create practices that will be shared with other schools and athletic programs.”
The representatives will return to implement the Healthy Masculinity curriculum as well as develop an action plan during the three days that addresses both prevention and response strategies. Throughout the length of the project, the Richmond contingent will receive technical assistance and support in developing these strategies.
HMCAP will positively engage male college athletes, coaches, and athletic administrators as influential leaders in the prevention of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking on college campuses and in their surrounding communities. Men Can Stop Rape, in partnership with the Positive Coaching Alliance, will facilitate the project.
Sports have long played a historical role in advancing social justice and cultural change – from racial integration to the Special Olympics to the advancement of female athletes. It is this spirit of leadership, advocacy, and activism to reduce sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking that the University of Richmond is working to cultivate within its athletics.
In a recent publication by the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) – “Addressing Sexual Assault and Interpersonal Violence: Athletics' Role in Support of Healthy and Safe Campuses” – the authors assert that college coaches, student-athletes, athletic administrators, and athletic staff are uniquely positioned to play a key role in creating a safer campus climate. Their influence and leadership offer them the opportunity to play a visible role for the entire campus that promotes healthy prosocial norms tied to fostering healthy and safe colleges.
The 12 other colleges participating in HMCAP include Bowie State University, Joliet Junior College, New Mexico Highlands University, Northern Kentucky University, Occidental College, University of California-Santa Barbara, University of Delaware, University of Maryland – College Park, Virginia Commonwealth University, West Virginia University, Winona State University, and Western Oregon University.
###
The United States Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women Campus Technical Assistance and Resource Project encourages institutions of higher education to adopt comprehensive, coordinated responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. As the mechanism for effectively carrying out the Mission of the OVW Technical Assistance and Resource Project, technical assistance is designed to provide campus program grantees with information, training, and resources to enhance their capacity to address violence against women while effectively implementing grant goals, objectives, and requirements.
