STUDENTS SPEARHEAD FORUM ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE

A forum on sexual violence will be held Friday at Southeast Missouri State University. The forum is scheduled for 8-9:30 a.m. in the University Center Missouriana Room.

Southeast seniors Julie Hoffman of Cape Girardeau and Tiffany DeClue of DeSoto are spearheading the forum as part of a social work class. The forum's goal is to raise awareness about the local Network Against Sexual Violence and its efforts to bring several groups together to handle sexual assault and child sexual abuse cases in this area.

The forum will feature a panel discussion. Slated to be on the panel are Rick Hetzel, Cape Girardeau police chief; Cheryl Welch of the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department; Mike Deimund of the Cape Girardeau County prosecutor's office; Kathy Blevins, a local nurse practitioner; and Tammy Gwaltney, president of the board of directors of the Network Against Sexual Violence.

Hoffman and DeClue said they learned of the Network Against Sexual Violence through Dr. Kenneth Lancaster, Southeast assistant professor of social work. Lancaster serves on the organization's board.

Hoffman hopes the forum will lay the groundwork for a center to house the network.

The Network Against Sexual Violence was launched about a year ago by agencies that deal with adult sexual assault and child sexual abuse cases, Gwaltney said. Participating agencies include Southeast Missouri Hospital, St. Francis Medical Center, public schools, the Cape Girardeau County Health Department, the Missouri Division of Family Services, and Lutheran and Family Services. The board meets monthly. The organization holds public meetings every other month.

Gwaltney said the network's mission is to educate people about sexual assault.