Prevention services offered through the PATH to Care Center are moving out of UC Berkeley\u2019s Division of Equity and Inclusion.<\/p>\n
The center\u2019s reporting line and Peer Education Program will move to the Division of Student Affairs\u2019 Health and Wellbeing organization, which was first announced in July 2023. Health and Wellbeing aims to combine medical, recreation and wellbeing services.<\/p>\n
According to a statement from the campus Division of Equity and Inclusion, the decision was made to provide the campus community with the \u201cfull continuum of comprehensive programs and resources.\u201d<\/p>\n
During this transition, administrators also laid off two senior members of the center\u2019s prevention team, which manages programs aimed at preventing sexual violence, intimate partner violence, sexual harassment and stalking.<\/p>\n
Associate Director of Prevention Melissa Kwon and Prevention Manager Liat Wexler were the last remaining professional staff members on the team.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe remain committed to supporting survivors of sexual violence and sexual harassment (SVSH) and preventing SVSH for our campus community,\u201d the Divison of Equity and Inclusion said in its statement.<\/p>\n
While officials have said the Peer Education Program will continue, some student volunteers say years of ongoing cuts and reductions to the center\u2019s services have left them feeling unsupported.<\/p>\n
A student peer educator at the center, who was granted anonymity due to fear of retaliation, said the program has offered fewer prevention workshops across campus this year compared to past years.<\/p>\n
The Peer Education Program, under direct supervision of professional staff on the prevention team, sends students to Greek Life houses, athletic teams, residential communities and other student organizations to hold workshops on sexual violence and harassment prevention.<\/p>\n
In July 2024, the center began overall staff reductions<\/a> lasting into fall 2024 that slashed appointment availability by 54%.<\/p>\n