The McCluskey Center for Violence Prevention engages in research and education on sexual violence among college students.

Our Mission

The McCluskey Center for Violence Prevention at the University of Utah engages in research and education on sexual violence among college students, particularly as it affects students from historically minoritized backgrounds, including students of color, queer and trans students, and students with disabilities. The center seeks to bridge the gap between research and education by bringing together researchers, prevention educators and students to focus on scholarship and best practices for understanding, intervening in, and preventing sexual violence. In carrying out this mission, the center's work benefits students of all backgrounds and demographics.

Our Team

The McCluskey Center for Violence Prevention is led by faculty, staff and student assistants. Faculty and staff in the center strive to engage in transformative practices aimed at shifting the campus culture to address violence at its roots. Our staff conduct on-going, in-depth research about the roots of sexual violence and use that knowledge to design educational programs and content. We intentionally hire students who are passionate about violence prevention, without requiring them to have previous experience in this area and mentor them throughout their time working for the center.

Learn more about our team at this link.

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Abolition is a concept many of us learned about for the first time while studying American History in school. Abolition is about dismantling harmful institutions—like slavery, police, and prisons…And it is also a framework for dreaming about the end of sexual violence.

Our current response to sexual violence is punishment. In the future, we imagine a world where instead of punishment, we engage people who’ve caused harm in accountability.Accountability work lends towards more positive behavior change, and eventually a safer world for everyone.

#abolition #primaryprevention #preventharm #violenceprevention #universityofutah #mcvp #endsexualviolence #accountability #justice #dreamingofabetterworld

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20d

Consent when taking photos or videos of someone is important - ALWAYS!

Taking photos or videos of someone without their consent, especially when they are in a vulnerable position is harmful. We should be practicing consent, even with small things like taking photos and videos of people to avoid causing harm to one another.

Here are some things you can do:
Ask yourself why you feel you need to take a photo/video of someone without their consent?
How would I feel if someone took a photo/video of me without my consent?
How can I do better to practicing asking permission before taking a photo or video of someone?
What can I do to take accountability for myself when it comes to taking t photos/videos of other?

Learn More at https://violenceprevention.utah.edu/examples-of-harmful-behavior/ or by screenshotting the QR code above!

#primaryprevention #preventharm #violenceprevention #universityofutah #mcvp #consent #photos

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Calling all students, staff, faculty, and U of U community! Join us Tuesday, April 8th from 4:30 - 5:30 pm in room 1140 in the library for our Reading and Respecting Boundaries and Accepting Rejection workshop!

Learn how to navigate boundaries and rejection in a nonjudgmental community space. This is a prevention piece for the @uofuwellness Sexual Assault Awareness Month programming. Let’s learn how to improve the health of our relationships starting with ourselves! See you there

#primaryprevention #preventharm #violenceprevention #universityofutah #mcvp #respectingboundaries #acceptingrejection #SAAM #sexualassaultprevention

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27d

Some friends of ours might love talking about sex…and others, not so much.

It’s important to remember that conversations about sex with friends can help us connect, learn about ourselves, and gain advice or reassurance.
However, If you are questioning whether or not to share intimate or private information, it’s probably best to avoid it.

Be sure to not only consider your relationship with your partner (and whether they want your friends to know these details) as well as your relationship with your friend (and whether or not they are comfortable hearing them!).

Also, you might unintentionally be bragging or looking for validation…which can be all types of harmful!

#primaryprevention #preventharm #violenceprevention #universityofutah #mcvp #braggingrights

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13d

Consent is sometimes simplified into yes means yes, and no means no. But it can be more complicated than that, especially when that “yes” is said due to coercion.

Coercion is pressuring, persuading, forcing, or manipulating someone into doing something they don’t actually want to do. Getting someone to have sex with you should never be the result of coercion. We should want our partners to want to have sex with us!

#primaryprevention #preventharm #violenceprevention #universityofutah #mcvp #consent #coercion #coercedyes

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29d

Meet our 2025 Student Staff Team

We’re excited to introduce the amazing new student staff at the McCluskey Center for Violence Prevention! These brilliant minds are ready to bring fresh ideas, creativity, and passion to everything they do. Stay tuned for some incredible action projects coming your way later this year!

#newyearnewteam #studentstaff2025 #staytuned #campusinnovation #excitingprojects #primaryprevention #preventharm #violenceprevention #universityofutah #mcvp