Support & Dignity
We provide free and confidential crisis intervention to victims of sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking and harassment. We want all of our clients to feel respected and heard. The Aurora Center is a place for all people affiliated with the University of Minnesota or Augsburg College impacted or concerned about sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, or sexual harassment.
Our office accepts walk-in clients in addition to providing a 24-hour Helpline, which is answered 365 days a year by our volunteer advocates who have received training as sexual assault crisis counselors and can assist you and explore options.
The Aurora Center serves approximately 500-600 people per year through its advocacy services and provides education and training to nearly 10,000 University of Minnesota students, staff, and faculty each year, delivering a positive prevention message.
At a Glance
History
In March of 1986, after a much-publicized report of sexual assault involving three University of Minnesota athletes who were arrested in Madison, Wisconsin, University of Minnesota President Ken Keller, stated that the University would move “as rapidly as we can” to confront the issue of sexual violence campus wide.
By July 1986, the Sexual Violence Program (name later changed to The Aurora Center) was created at the University of Minnesota, TC. The Minnesota Public Interest Research Group (MPIRG) assisted with the start-up of the program by submitting a proposal to help lay the groundwork and assist in defining what students felt should be the mission and services. Since then much research and data has been collected about the prevalence of sexual and relationship violence not just on the University of Minnesota, TC campus, but nationwide.