Wayne State University took a major step toward ensuring a safe and inclusive campus environment with the formation of the Office of Sexual Violence Prevention and Education (OSVPE), which recently held its ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The OSVPE is an initiative that began with the Wayne State University Student Senate, the university’s official student government and the Graduate Employees’ Organizing Committee (GEOC).

“Our students recognized a need on campus, and the creation of this office supports our strategic plan to build an environment that is inclusive, welcoming and supportive,” said Laurie Lauzon Clabo, acting provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “The Student Senate and GEOC brought this idea forward, pointed out a critical gap, and with an incredibly supportive university administration, we worked together to fill it. Those student-led groups were involved in the selection process when we hired a director to lead the center.”

The person selected to lead the OSVPE was Larmender Davis, a two-time Wayne State alumna and 25-year veteran in the domestic violence and sexual assault field.

“It’s a topic that I’ve been passionate about for a long time, and I'm also passionate about Wayne State,” said Davis, who was previously an adjunct professor in the School of Social Work for nine years before being named director of the OSVPE in October 2022. “To take a subject that I'm very passionate about and be able to merge it with Wayne State and the city of Detroit is a dream come true.”

The request from the Student Senate and GEOC stemmed from a desire for on-campus services that enhance WSU’s campus and community as a safe, non-judgmental and empowering environment in a venue that is complimentary to the university’s Title IX Office and Office of Equal Opportunity.

Davis is one of three full-time employees working in the OSVPE, in addition to an intern role that will be filled annually. She is joined by Barbara L. Jones, program educator; Danielle Reeves, program specialist; and Delaney McQuire, a bachelor of social work intern, all of whom are present to listen, support and empower. In addition to providing direct support to students, the team also conducts ongoing education and outreach around gender-based violence, bias and microaggressions to provide awareness and community education across campus.

“It’s funny, when people come into our office, they're like, ‘It feels so Zen,’ and that's what we want,” said Davis. “That’s our goal, to create that environment. We want to be a place for students who have experienced sexual assault to just to drop in. They can feel comfortable here, and they can come here and get what they need to help them on their healing journey.”

Based on data presented by the OSVPE, women ages 18-24 are at an elevated risk of sexual violence, with 23% of transgender, queer gender or non-conforming college students reporting being sexually assaulted. Another data point indicated that 50% of college sexual assaults occur during the fall semester.

“We want to have awareness events where we talk about these statistics, but it’s about more than the statistics. There are real people behind every number,” Davis said. “We’re educating people that this is not a women’s issue — it’s a human issue. We need everybody at the table so we can really impact the campus and community.”

Wayne State University students, staff and faculty are welcome to contact the Office of Sexual Violence Prevention and Education via phone or email to schedule an appointment with an advocate. The team can be reached at 313-577-9220 or OSVPE@wayne.edu. The OSVPE is located in Room 652 of the Student Center Building at 5221 Gullen Mall.

TOP PHOTO: The staff of the Office of Sexual Violence Prevention and Education are (L-R) Barbara Jones, Danielle Reeves, Delaney McQuire and Larmender Davis.