IUSA donating money to Middle Way House

Middle Way House, a Bloomington women's shelter, will soon receive a generous donation from the IU student body. IU Student Association voted earlier this week to support Middle Way with a $27,500 donation from the IUSA Rape Crisis Fund.\nThe rape fund is comprised of $3 donations made by students when registering for classes. Every student has the option of checking the box next to "IU Rape Crisis Fund" and automatically donating $3 each time they register.\nToby Strout, executive director of the Middle Way House, said the money Middle Way receives from the University is a significant portion of their $1.2 million a year budget, and a great help to the organization.\n"The contributions have been at least $20,000 in the past, so when they go up higher we are so greatly thrilled," Strout said.\nMiddle Way House offers a variety of programs and support for survivors of rape and abuse and their children. The money will go toward paying the staff of Middle Way and supporting the 24-hour crisis response program, along with other facility programs.\nStrout said that across the state, funding is minimal for rape crisis centers such as Middle Way. She said Middle Way is lucky to have the support of the University. \n"Overall, there really isn't any contribution larger than the one made by students," Strout said. "The existence of the University is pretty central to the existence of our program." \nMiddle Way relies heavily on volunteer support, and have many IU faculty, staff and students as volunteers. Volunteers help with many of the programs the facility offers, including answering the phones after 5 p.m. for the 24-hour crisis response Middle Way provides. \nIUSA treasurer Blair Greenberg said giving money to the Middle Way House is one of the best things IUSA does, and the vote to give the money was unanimous.\n"Middle Way is a phenomenal organization," Greenberg said.\nStrout said there will never be enough money and resources to provide these women with everything they need. Most of the women who come to the shelter are not financially independent after leaving their abuser. \nJudd Arnold, student body vice president, said it's important that students check off the $3 donation when registering for classes. \n"People are registering for classes right now, and we need people to check the box and donate $3," Arnold said. "This is a great problem and one that is never going away"