Forget the dreaded ‘Freshman 15’ and worrying about finding her way around the University of Connecticut campus. For Jenna LiCausi of Melrose, her greatest concern, and success, so far as a college freshman is surviving the ‘Red Zone’ — the dangerous first few weeks of college when most sexual assaults of young women occur. “The ‘Red Zone’ is something MAAV [ Melrose Alliance Against Violence ] taught us,” LiCausi said during a recent phone interview. “It’s [called that] because senior guys are sometimes looking at the freshman girls as easy targets.” This is but one educational coat of armor that Melrose students like LiCausi take with them after years of violence-prevention education and training offered by the Melrose Alliance Against Violence (MAAV). The exclusive-to-Melrose non-profit agency has been around since 1995, providing confidential assistance, support and emergency referrals to domestic violence victims. But perhaps MAAV’s greatest legacy is the young people who participate in the agency’s programs in the Melrose Public Schools , beginning in middle school. LiCausi is just one example. “Through MAAV, I know how to keep myself safe and recognize the signs of an abusive relationship,” she said. “The first two weeks of school at UConn, there were two sexual assaults. That put it into perspective. When you’re in Melrose, it’s not as obvious. Here on a campus of 25,000 people, it’s much more obvious.” What also put it into p ...
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Forget the dreaded ‘Freshman 15’ and worrying about finding her way around the University of Connecticut campus. For Jenna LiCausi of Melrose, her greatest concern, and success, so far as a college freshman is surviving the ‘Red Zone’ — the dangerous first few weeks of college when most sexual assaults of young women occur. “The ‘Red Zone’ is something MAAV [ Melrose Alliance Against Violence ] taught us,” LiCausi said during a recent phone interview. “It’s [called that] because senior guys are sometimes looking at the freshman girls as easy targets.” This is but one educational coat of armor that Melrose students like LiCausi take with them after years of violence-prevention education and training offered by the Melrose Alliance Against Violence (MAAV). The exclusive-to-Melrose non-profit agency has been around since 1995, providing confidential assistance, support and emergency referrals to domestic violence victims. But perhaps MAAV’s greatest legacy is the young people who participate in the agency’s programs in the Melrose Public Schools , beginning in middle school. LiCausi is just one example. “Through MAAV, I know how to keep myself safe and recognize the signs of an abusive relationship,” she said. “The first two weeks of school at UConn, there were two sexual assaults. That put it into perspective. When you’re in Melrose, it’s not as obvious. Here on a campus of 25,000 people, it’s much more obvious.” What also put it into p ...