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Resources at Eastern

Eastern provides confidential support to individuals who have experienced or are concerned about harm, threats, or difficult personal situations. Support is available whether an experience occurred recently, is ongoing, or happened in the past.

Advocacy and Support Services
Eastern has and works with trained advocates who provide support to students impacted by interpersonal violence, including dating or domestic violence, sexual harm, stalking, and related experiences. Advocates help individuals understand their options, connect to resources, and navigate healing and recovery.

Eastern’s Sexual Assault & Interpersonal Violence Response Team (SAIV-RT) is a multidisciplinary group that coordinates campus response and support. Not all members of the SAIV-RT are confidential resources. 

Confidential support is available through Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Student Health Services, Campus Ministry, the University Victim Advocates and designated off-campus partners.

For additional support connecting to resources, filing a report, and/or seeking supportive measures, please visit HERE for disclosure and complaint report resources.

Services Include
Advocacy services may include:

  • Accompaniment to court, student conduct proceedings, law enforcement agencies, and medical services
  • Crisis intervention and emotional support
  • Academic and housing accommodations
  • Resource navigation and referrals
  • Financial support
  • Reporting options
  • Safety planning

Accessing Advocacy Services 
Advocacy services are confidential and available by appointment or through same-day contact during regular University hours.

Star Byrum
Phone: 860-465-4314
Email: byrums@easternct.edu

See information below for 24/7 confidential support options.

24/7 Confidential Support (Community-Based)
These off-campus resources are confidential and are not required to share information with the University.

Support Resources and Services

  • The Healing and Recovery Fund at Eastern provides financial support for immediate and unforeseen needs that arise as a result of experiencing interpersonal violence. 

    Support may be used for expenses including but not limited to medical care, off campus therapy, legal assistance, equipment necessary for safety or access and more. 

    Who Can Apply
    Individuals requesting support must

    • Be a current student (undergraduate or graduate), have been enrolled as a student during the semester in which support is requested
    • Have been impacted by interpersonal violence, including sexual harm, dating or domestic violence, stalking, or related experiences
    • Request assistance for expenses directly related to the impact of that experience

    Funding Information

    • Requests up to $500 may be submitted through the application
    • Submission of an application does not guarantee funding 
    • Requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis 

    Applying for the Fund
    To request support, individuals complete a brief application describing the need.  

    Applicants are asked to briefly describe how the requested support relates to their experience.

    Meeting with an advocate is not required to apply for the fund. Confidential advocacy support is available to assist with the application and connect individuals to additional resources.

    About the Fund
    The Healing and Recovery Fund was developed through student-led work in the Social Work program at Eastern Connecticut State University, with guidance from Dr. Sarah Nightingale, and in collaboration with the Women’s Center, led by the director, Star Byrum. This work identified the need for a dedicated emergency fund to support students impacted by interpersonal violence.

    The fund was shaped through research, campus and community engagement, and student input to ensure it reflects the needs of the Eastern community.

    The Healing and Recovery Fund is a student-informed initiative created to enhance support for students impacted by interpersonal violence. The Student Government Association supported the launch of the fund by allocating $5,000 in initial funding.

    Confidentiality and Follow-Up 
    Applications are reviewed by confidential employees. Information shared through this application will remain private and will not be reported to the University’s Title IX office without the applicant’s request.

    If funding is approved, only the minimum information necessary will be shared with designated University offices for the sole purpose of processing and disbursing funds.

    Applicants may choose to request a report to the Title IX office at any time. If a report is made at the applicant’s request, the Title IX Coordinator will reach out via email to offer resources and the option to meet. Participation in any follow-up is entirely the applicant’s choice. Choosing not to engage with Title IX or an advocate does not affect funding consideration.

    Applying for the Fund 
    The application can be completed online at anytime.

    Questions or Assistance 
    For questions about the Healing and Recovery Fund, please contact: 
    Star Byrum 
    University Victim Advocate 
    Phone: 860-465-4314
    Email: byrums@easternct.edu 

  • University Police
    911 or 860-465-5310

    Suicide Prevention Lifeline
    1-800-273-TALK (8255)

    Your Resident Assistant and/or Hall Director

    Sexual Assault Crisis Center of Eastern Connecticut (SACCEC)
    860-456-2789 or 1-888-999-5545

    Windham Community Memorial Hospital Emergency Room
    860-456-6715

  • A variety of accommodations can be made for those affected by sexual assault and interpersonal violence. These can include special academic support services, class re-assignments, extensions on deadlines, temporary living arrangements, and other campus-based changes.

    The Dean of Student Affairs
    Kemesha Wilmot,  Dean of Students
    Gelsi and Young Hall, Room 222
    860-465-5247
    wilmotk@easternct.edu 

    The Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences
    Amy Coffey, Associate Dean
    860-465-5383
    coffeya@easternct.edu 

    Housing and Residential Life
    Paul Serignese, Director
    Wood Hall, Room 245
    860-465-0012
    SerigneseP@easternct.edu 

    University Victim Advocate *Confidential
    Star Byrum, Director
    860-465-4314
    byrums@easternct.edu

  • Regardless of your decision to report the crime to police or to the university, you are encouraged to receive medical support. All injuries are not visible. Sexual assault may put you at risk of acquiring a sexually transmitted infection. Women may also be at risk for pregnancy. You can request the assistance of a SAIV-RT member provided by the university and/or a member of the Sexual Assault Crisis Center of Eastern Connecticut (SACCEC) who will come to the Emergency Room at the hospital.

    If you choose to have evidence collected, you should try not to wash, bathe, shower, douche, comb hair, change clothes, eat, drink, smoke, brush teeth, or go to the bathroom before going to the hospital. It is recommended that evidence be collected within the first 72 hours of the assault.

    Student Health Services
    Associate Director
    185 Birch Street
    860-465-5263

    Windham Community Memorial Hospital
    Sexual Assault Forensic Nurse Examiner
    112 Mansfield Avenue
    860-456-6715

  • Taking care of yourself is important. You deserve support, and it is never too late to reach out for help.

    The following confidential campus resources are available during regular University business hours and can be accessed by appointment:

    Counseling and Psychological Services*
    Dr. Bryce Crasper, Director
    182 High Street
    860-465-0181
    crapserb@easternct.edu 

    University Victim Advocate*
    Star Byrum, Director
    Student Center, Room 116
    860-465-4314
    byrums@easternct.edu 

    Campus Ministry
    Father Larry LaPointe
    290 Prospect Street
    (860) 423-0856

    Spiritual support is available for individuals of many faith traditions. Campus ministries include Catholic, Jewish, Methodist, Independent, and Congregational communities.

  • We encourage you to report any incidents to the Eastern Police Department. This will initiate your path to justice and could also help you heal. Contacting the police does not require you to file a formal report or press charges. The decision to report to the police is yours, and you will not be pressured to report, to not report or to under-report. In response to reports of sexual assault and violence, the university seeks to provide services for you, to provide due process for the accused and to protect the campus from the threat of such incidents. Judicial Affairs is responsible for the overall coordination of the student conduct process. They can also assist in accommodating you with a housing change, a class reassignment, a no-contact directive, extensions on class assignments, and others changes as appropriate.

    University Police Department
    Public Safety Building
    860-465-5310
    9-1-1

    Office of Equity and Diversity and Title IX
    Dr. LaMar Coleman, Vice President for Equity and Diversity
    Gelsi and Young Hall, Room 255
    860-465-0072
    colemanla@easternct.edu 

    Sara Judge, Director of Institutional Equity/Title IX Coordinator
    Gelsi-Young Hall, Room 253
    860-465-5012
    judges@easternct.edu

    Office of Student Conduct
    Dwayne Cameron, Director
    Wood Services Building, Room 207
    860-465-0063
    camerondw@easternct.edu 

    Willimantic Police Department
    42 Meadow Street, Windham, CT
    24-Hour Non-Emergency
    860-465-3135
    Administration and Reports
    860-465-3141

     

  • All survivors of interpersonal violence have the following rights as stated by the Federal Campus Sexual Assault Victims Bill of Rights:

    • Survivors shall be notified of their options to notify law enforcement.
    • Survivors and the accused shall be informed of any outcome of a disciplinary hearing.
    • Both parties must have the same opportunity to have others present in a disciplinary hearing (ie witnesses, an attorney, an advocate).
    • Survivors shall be notified of counseling services that they may utilize.
    • Survivors shall be notified of options for changing academic and living situations.

    www.clerycenter.org

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