Within the next week, the University will announce changes to
its center for sexual assault prevention, reducing the size of the
center and, according to executives in the Michigan Student
Assembly, possibly inhibiting its ability to perform its
mission.

The Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center, which
provides education, crisis help and counseling to members of the
University community, will be increasing its collaboration with
Counseling and Psychological Services, Vice President for Student
Affairs E. Royster Harper said.

The two counselors who currently work with SAPAC will be
transferred to CAPS, allowing SAPAC to focus on education and
prevention, said associate dean of students Stephanie
Pinder-Amaker, who is responsible for the two programs.

Harper said the relocation of SAPAC’s counseling services
would help both the center and CAPS “support each other
clinically.” By providing both education and counseling,
SAPAC may be running the risk of compromising both sets of the
work, she added.

Harper also said that these counseling services exist to make
sure that students and other members of the University community
receive the support they may need.

In addition, SAPAC will no longer administer its
Crisis-line,Pinder-Amaker said. Instead, Safehouse, an Ann Arbor
based group that offers a live, 24-hour hotline, will take over
this responsibility. Currently, students who call SAPAC’s
Crisis-line must wait a few minutes while a volunteer is
contacted.

“The changes that we’re implementing will provide
more support for those who’ve experience sexual
violence,” she said.

All aspects of the program will remain as it is now for the rest
of the semester. The University will begin to implement changes in
the summer.

But some believe the changes to the center may be more severe. A
letter obtained by The Michigan Daily, sent to President Mary Sue
Coleman by four senior officials in MSA, urged the president to
resist this consolidation. MSA executives presumed that
SAPAC’s counseling services and on-campus, 24-hour
Crisis-line may be cut.

MSA Vice President Monique Perry said that she and the other
authors of the letter have a source from SAPAC who confirmed the
possible changes. Assembly President Angela Galardi, Student
General Counsel Jason Mironov and Treasurer Elliot Wells Reid also
signed the letter.

“President Coleman, we call for an end to the rollback of
student services. … Take steps to rectify the damages that
inhibit the best student services our campus can offer,” the
letter reads.

SAPAC will continue to provide immediate crisis intervention for
victims of sexual abuse — the current manager of the
Crisis-line will assume this duty. If ongoing counseling is
required, SAPAC will refer the invidual to a professional at CAPS.
Pinder-Amaker said any student who may require regular assistance
will be able to see that CAPS counselor on a regular basis.

SAPAC currently provides individual and group counseling to
victims of sexual abuse and their family, friends and partners.
CAPS provides 45-minute counseling sessions by appointment. To
obtain an appointment, individuals must complete a 20-minute
confidential intake form.