March

Utah lawmakers considered several bills tied to relationship and sexual violence during the 2021 legislative session. Some measures passed, including changes to revenge porn laws, campus crime reporting, and awareness for military sexual assault survivors. Others, like bills on affirmative consent and sexual violence prevention education, did not move forward. These decisions show how laws can shape safety, accountability, and prevention across campuses and communities.

Misogyny, racism, and violence are deeply connected. In response to the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings, this discussion explores how white supremacy, sexism, and power shape acts of harm against Asian women and marginalized communities. It challenges the excuses often used to explain violence and calls for deeper conversations about accountability, oppression, and prevention. By addressing harmful beliefs early and examining the systems that normalize hate, communities can work toward lasting change, safety, and collective responsibility.

The McCluskey Center for Violence Prevention is built around one clear goal: stopping relationship and sexual violence before it happens. Its work uses education, research, training, and campus partnerships to address the root causes of harm. By focusing on primary prevention, power, identity, and accountability, the center brings students, staff, and faculty together to create safer communities and lasting change.

Disabled people face higher risks of intimate partner violence and relationship sexual violence, yet their experiences are often overlooked. Abuse can include control of mobility devices, denial of medication, isolation, and other forms of harm tied to disability. Understanding these risks through an intersectional lens helps create prevention efforts that are more inclusive, informed, and effective. Safer communities must value disabled people, listen to their experiences, and address the systems that make violence more likely.