FSU gets feds’ support to prevent sexual assault

Florida State University is a recipient of a $400,000 federal grant to “combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking,” according to the U.S. Department of Justice. 

The $400,000 grant spanning 36 months is an effort by the U.S. Office on Violence Against Women.

“Through this critical investment of federal grant monies, we provide vital resources to FSU’s on-campus programs that ensure victim safety and assistance while holding offenders accountable,” U.S. Attorney John Heekin said in a news release. 

On FSU’s main campus in 2025 seven instances of rape, two instances of statutory rape, 17 instances of stalking, nine instances of dating violence, and one instance of domestic violence were reported, according to federally-required reporting. 

In 2024, there were six instances of rape, three of fondling, one of statutory rape, four of domestic violence, one of dating violence, and nine of stalking. 

Domestic violence instances are felonies or misdemeanors, per federal campus reporting standards. Stalking is defined as “engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others or suffer substantial emotional distress.”

“The Campus Program supports comprehensive approaches designed to enhance victim services (including legal services), implement prevention and education programs, and develop and strengthen security and investigation strategies to prevent, prosecute, and respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking,” the DOJ said.