What are the opening hours?

Monday 8am - 4:30pm Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm Thursday 8am - 4:30pm Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Violence Awareness and Response Program

Home
United States
Mankato, MN
Violence Awareness and Response Program

Here for you.

The Violence Awareness & Response Program (VARP) offers:

- Confidential advocacy for MNSU Mankato students impacted by sexual violence and/or
relationship abuse
- Crisis intervention
- Prevention education programming
- Environmental strategies to reduce harm
- Resource referrals
- Training, volunteer, and internship opportunities
- Recognized Student Organizations
- Peer Educators Acting for Change and Equality (PEACE)
- Men Against Violence (MAVs)

05/11/2026

🎗️VARP is one of the only offices on campus that provides confidential advocacy for students impacted by sexual violence, including relationship abuse, exploitation, and stalking. This is a space where:

✔️Our Director staff is not required to report what happened to the university or the police
✔️We listen without judgment
✔️Your immediate and long-term well-being is prioritized through safety planning
✔️We discuss resource options

🗓️ How to schedule an appointment:
➡️ Bookings Link for the Director: link.mnsu.edu/MeetWithDenise (link in bio)
📱 Call: 507-389-5127
🧑‍💻 Email: [email protected]

Appointments are not required to meet with us:
🙋 Walk-ins are always welcome: CSU 218
🤝 We can meet students in other campus spaces, if called out by another department/office to provide support

Our staff hours are Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm. For any emergencies outside these hours, we encourage you to contact the Committee Against Domestic Abuse (CADA). CADA serves our community and has advocates on call 24/7: 800-477-0466. We work closely with CADA to make sure the needs of survivors are being met.

05/08/2026

🎉 Congratulations on finishing the spring 2026 semester, Mavs!

Whether you plan to go home, travel, or stay in town, we hope you have a fantastic summer.

Our office and the Women’s Center will remain open from 7:30am-4pm, Monday-Friday.

If you are on campus between now and mid-August, remember that you can use our space to study. Or, you can come by to get free resources and talk with our staff. We are here for you 🪷

05/07/2026

We thank the campus community for reaching out to & engaging with us this semester. Here is our impact since January:

🎗️Prevention education: 324 students & staff reached through their departments, classes, and organizations

🪷Advocacy: 208 hours of direct advocacy provided to students and staff

💟 We hosted Take Back the Night as a part of Sexual Assault Prevention & Awareness Month, which provided an intentional space for activism, empowerment, and healing. Nine students and colleagues courageously shared their experiences through song, poetry, and written statements.

🙌🏻 We trained 14 faculty and staff members to be certified facilitators for the Green Dot Bystander Intervention Program. Green Dot will be part of our violence prevention education strategy in the coming academic year.

⏩ Plan to see us in the fall semester and be a Maverick for Violence Prevention. We will be hosting events during Welcome Week and observing Domestic Violence Prevention & Awareness Month in October.

⏩ Remember, there are several resources, including us here in VARP, who are prepared to support students & staff impacted by sexual violence. You can learn more about resources at link.mnsu.edu/varpresources (link in bio).

04/28/2026

🩵 Join us in recognizing Denim Day on Wednesday, April 29, in honor of Sexual Assault Prevention & Awareness Month.

👖 What is Denim Day?
Denim Day is the longest‑running sexual violence prevention and education campaign. It began after a 1992 ruling by the Italian Supreme Court overturned a r**e conviction, claiming the survivor’s tight jeans implied consent. Since then, wearing denim has become a visible act of protest against victim‑blaming and harmful myths surrounding sexual violence.
Learn more at DenimDay.org.

🙌 How to participate:
Join us and Alpha Chi Omega from 11 AM–2 PM in the CSU Flexible Programming Space for activity stations, resources, a photo booth, and snacks.
📸 Be part of our campus photo at 12:45 PM in Hearth Lounge!
💙 Wear denim. Show solidarity. Help challenge misconceptions.

04/12/2026

🗓️ Monday, April 13
🕡 6:30-8:30 pm
📍 CSU Ballroom

The mission of the international Take Back the Night Foundation is to create safe communities and respectful relationships through awareness events and initiatives, with the goal of ending all forms of sexual violence. We will honor this initiative by providing a space where our students, colleagues, and community members may:

🤝 Connect with campus & community resources.
💬 Listen to students, colleagues, and community members share their stories of survivorship and allyship through music, poetry, and written narratives.
🙌🏽 Enjoy free Take Back the Night-branded items, food, and enter into a drawing to win one of three prizes: a $25 Visa gift card, a portable/magnetic phone charger, or an iPad Tablet.
📢 Take part in a protest and walk with our community, to show collective support for survivor safety, prevention education, the elimination of r**e myths, and call for accountability of those who cause harm.

Audience: Students, Colleagues, Community Members. Register on MavLife or when you arrive at the event. There is no cost to attend.

Cohosted by: The Violence Awareness & Response Program, Residential Life, Fraternity & Sorority Life, and CADA

04/07/2026

Join us for Teal Tuesdays as we observe Sexual Assault Prevention & Awareness Month this April.

🩵 The color teal represents sexual violence prevention and survivor support. Teal Tuesday was created to keep awareness visible throughout the month by encouraging ongoing conversations instead of focusing on just one day.

🙌 Throughout April, Teal Tuesday will include four events held at different campus locations. Each event is structured as a quick, drop‑in experience rather than a sit‑down program. While the core message is consistent, each week emphasizes accessibility, visibility, and connection in different campus spaces.

🖌️Tuesday, April 7: Teal Painting Party, 2-4pm, CSU 218
🧁Tuesday, April 14: Teal Icing, 12-1pm, CSU 269
👚Tuesday, April 21: Teal Tie Dye, 4-6pm, Preska Lobby and 126
🔖Tuesday, April 28: Teal Quiet Corner, 8am-12:30pm, Memorial Library – Southwest Corner

04/01/2026

🩵 2026 marks the 25th year that our country has recognized April as Sexual Assault Prevention & Awareness Month.

Join us in observing this milestone. We’re hosting events to help Mavs learn about how to prevent all forms of sexual violence, including sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, and exploitation, as well as support friends who have been impacted.

🗓️ See the full calendar of events, programs, and advocacy opportunities: link.mnsu.edu/sapam (also in bio).

💬 Reach out to us if you are looking for presentations, confidential advocacy, or to join our RSO - PEACE (Peer Educators Acting for Change & Equality).

03/25/2026

🎗️Take Back the Night is the oldest worldwide movement to end sexual violence. In partnership with CADA and Residential Life, we’ll observe Take Back the Night on Monday, April 13 from 6:30–8:30pm in the CSU Ballroom.

🪷 A core purpose of this event is breaking the silence around sexual violence. We know sharing can bring up many emotions—whether you’re a survivor, supporting someone you care about, or advocating for change. Take Back the Night creates space for strength, solidarity, and truth.

📖 We invite anyone to share their story. You can submit anonymously to have it read on your behalf, or choose to speak openly at the event.

➡️ Submit here: link.mnsu.edu/tbtn (also in our bio).
The form is confidential and managed by VARP staff.

More info will be provided for those choosing to share in person.

03/20/2026

🪷 Supporting Every Survivor: Crowdfunding Campaign for Emergency Resources
🗓️ Donations can be made at any time. The campaign will be forward-facing in April in honor of Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Month.

The Violence Awareness & Response Program is addressing a critical gap in resources for students who identify as survivors of sexual violence.

To safety plan effectively, we must offset the cost of survivors’ emergent needs, whether personal or academic, to support their healing and retention at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Our current fundraising goal is $3,500. For more information on this campaign and/or to donate, visit https://link.mnsu.edu/varpcrowdfund (link is in bio).

Anyone may donate to the campaign, so please share with your colleagues and networks. Thank you for supporting our students and your peers 💟

03/12/2026

💟 Exciting news, Mavs!

The Violence Awareness & Response Program, in our continued efforts to provide quality prevention education opportunities for our community, will become affiliated with the national Green Dot bystander intervention program this summer.

🟢 Green Dot is an evidence-informed curriculum used by universities, K-12, and community organizations across the country, and teaches individuals to be aware of when acts of harm are occurring, how to safely intervene in high-risk situations, and ultimately engage in consistent actions that uphold safety and accountability over silence and inaction.
Campus training opportunities will begin in summer 2026.

📢 Attention MNSU Mankato colleagues: you can participate in our two-day facilitator training, which results in certification to teach the Green Dot curriculum on our campus.

🗓️ Wed. April 22 and Thurs. April 23
🕘 9am-3pm each day through Zoom
🧑‍💻 Email [email protected] for more information on how to sign-up and register
🆓 This training is free!

02/09/2026

Celebrate healthy relationships with us this Best Friend Friday! 💜

February is Dating Violence Prevention & Awareness Month, and we’re creating space for learning, connection, and community care.

Join us for:
💜 Healthy relationships trivia (12–12:45 PM)
🏆 $50 for 1st • $25 for 2nd & 3rd
💜 Build-your-own self-care kits
💜 Sweet treats & hot cocoa

📅 Friday, Feb. 13
⏰ 11:30 AM–1:30 PM
📍 CSU 218, Women’s Center

Open to all students — see you there, Mavs! 💛💜

Address

Minnesota State University/Women'S Center/218 Centennial Student Union
Mankato, MN
56001

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8am - 4:30pm
Thursday	8am - 4:30pm
Friday	8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+15073895127

Website

https://linktr.ee/mnsu_varp

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