The History of the UCD Rape Prevention Education Program


Debra Small-Maier
November 1, 1979

UCD Rape Prevention Education Program is part of a system-wide Rape Prevention Education Program; that is there exists sister programs on all nine of the University of California campuses. The original concept for the program was developed in 1976 at which time a Rape Prevention Education Program was instituted on he University of California, Berkeley campus under the direction of Ms. Maria Sakovich. In 1978 Ms. Sakovich together with Chief William Beall Jr., system-wide Police Services Coordinator who also operates out of the UC Berkeley campus, began to explore possible sources of outside funding for the program.

In an attempt to realize this aim, Ms. Sakovich and Mr. Beall collaborated on the writing of a grant which they then submitted to the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration in hopes of gaining funding for the UCB Rape Prevention Education Program. The Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) responded to the effect that, while they would not consider funding a program that was limited to a single University of California campus, they would consider funding a system-wide Rape Prevention Education Program.

Consequently the grant was revised to include the creation of similar programs on each of the University of California campuses and was resubmitted. In advocating the University of California as an organization/institution qualified to administer a Rape Prevention Education Program, the grant stated the following reasons;
"For several reasons it is appropriate that the University of California educate about the problem of rape: everywhere the incidence of rape among women is staggering; the university is obligated to create as safe an environment as possible; with few exceptions, education about rape has not been part of any school curriculum; and there is an easily reachable population."

The grant further stated that;

"Justification for a rape prevention education program on University of California campuses does not come from a high incidence of reported rape within geographical boundaries of the campuses. The rate of reported rape on UC campuses in not high compared to surrounding cities, although sexual assault on campus frequently generates a more vigorous reaction and tends to confirm many people's perception that the campus is more dangerous than the surrounding environments The occurrence of sexual assault on University of California campuses however, is not truly indicative of the magnitude of the problem in the university population because university women are raped off campus just as non-university women are raped on campus. Because rape happens to females of all ages, all economic, ethnic, and professional backgrounds and since the campus community represents a cross section of the state's population we must assume that the incidence of sexual assault among University of California women to be the same as for women in general; that figure is estimated to be one in ten... Moreover as an employer and teacher of thousands, the university is obligated to create as safe an environment as possible and in so doing can serve as a model for other institutions and communities."

On July 1, 1979 the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration approved the revised grant and thus the initial steps of implementing a Rape Prevention Education Program on the Davis campus began.
In the mean time, an awareness of rape as a serious potential problem had existed on the Davis campus for quite some time. The university Police Department had been showing a rape prevention film accompanied by a safety talk on safety precautions on campus since 1973. Police efforts on campus were coordinated with a similar presentation by the Yolo County Sexual Assault Center, a Davis based organization. Nevertheless, the inability to reach as many students and staff members as desired remained a problem.

During the 1978-79 academic year a "Sexual Assault Prevention Committee" was formed to address the issue of rape prevention and safety on campus.

In terms of educational programs it was determined that the periodic presentations by the Sexual Assault Center in conjunction with the University Police Department were in no need of being improved upon. The committee's major concern in this area appears to have been the necessity of reaching a larger portion of the campus community and specific recommendations were made in an attempt to realize this goal. In addition, recommendations were made for further educational offerings. (EX: self-defense classes, programs during "O" week).
In terms of publications dealing with sexual assault and safety, the "Sexual Assault Prevention Committee" decided to produce a Davis oriented brochure based on UC Berkeley Rape Prevention Education Program's "Resources Against Rape." Consequently, such a brochure was published in the summer of 1979 and distributed to various points on campus.

Related committee and/or university actions included the distribution of whistles to campus women, expanded Unitrans evening services to and from the library, a proposal for improved campus lighting in the 1979-80 Capital Improvement Program as well as a consideration of an escort service. The concept of an escort service was decided against insofar as it was not shown that the service was the best solution in terms of rape prevention and therefore the high cost of implementing such a service was not warranted. The installation of emergency phones at various campus points was also considered.
When the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration's decision to fund the system-wide Rape Prevention Education Program was received, it was the Sexual Assault Prevention Committee, specifically the Chancellor himself, who dealt with the question as to where on campus the Davis component would be housed. The grant application proposed that the campus programs be administered by an already existing unit, with the University Police Departments given first consideration. Chief McEwen, as Police Department representative, indicated the department's interest in housing the Rape Prevention Education Program, the need to consider alternative sources did not arise and the matter was decided upon.

Upon funding of the system-wide "University of California Rape Prevention Education Program", Mr. William Beall Jr. was selected to serve as system-wide Program Director and Ms. Sakovich would continue to operate out of the Berkeley campus. In addition, each program is directly administered by a Campus Coordinator. On September 1, 1979, the first day the Davis program was in operation, Ms. Robin Skidmore-McKnight began to work in this capacity. Formerly affiliated with the Sacramento Planned Parenthood and with the Sacramento Rape Crisis Center, Ms. Skidmore-McKnight brought eight years of related experience to her position.

© 2005. UC Davis Campus Violence Prevention Program.