Palo Alto University to Host 'Town & Gown' Event Tackling Sexual Assault Among Young People

Palo Alto University (PAU) has announced that their November ‘Town and Gown’ event will focus on the troubling issue of sexual assault among young people.

As a committed leader within the community, PAU has been dealing with these pressing issues for young people in addition to cases of bullying, sexual assault and suicide- all highly prevalent. The upcoming ‘Town and Gown’ event will concentrate firmly on these key problems.

Power and Privilege – Sexual Assault among Young People will take place on Friday November 14, 2014 getting underway at 12:00 p.m. in the Gold Lounge at Stanford Faculty Club. The event has been organized by June Klein, Ed.D., PAU's Vice President of Business Affairs and Chief Financial Officer. The event will get underway with a keynote speech from PAU Professor, Peter Goldblum, Ph.D., before Kelly Cue Davis, Ph.D. from the University of Washington will discuss sexual violence among young people and the role of alcohol.

Dr. Goldblum, co-editor of the upcoming book, Youth Suicide and Bullying: Challenges and Strategies for Prevention and Intervention, which will release on November 12, 2014. He comments:

“Student on student victimization has gotten great attention in the media over the past several years. This includes discussion of school violence, sexual assaults, and bullying. While shocking reports have increased calls for schools and communities to take action, how to proceed is not so clear. Victimization involves all genders, sexual orientations, races, and family backgrounds. I am pleased be asked to participate in this timely discussion which is grounded in sound science and mindful of the complexity of the issues. Only through careful partnership among all involved--at all levels-- from school, family, community, and nation will we be able to develop rational policies and approaches. One place to start is community-wide soul-searching of our core values and how they influence the actions we take or those that we neglect.”

Kimberly F. Balsam, Ph.D. will complete the talks with a focus on the mental health issues caused by sexual assault, after which, all of the day’s keynote speakers will take questions from the audience.

PAU is also delighted to announce that representatives from both the Palo Alto School District and Gunn High School will be in attendance and they have voiced their appreciation to the many community leaders who will both attend and support the event.