Some members of UW-Stout’s Greek community are reaching out to those in need.

One of the university’s sororities is part of a pilot program to give student victims of sexual and domestic violence a safe zone.

"We have our local shelter, The Bridge to Hope,” said Jessica Bryan, with the Campus Violence Prevention Project. “And also, we have my services on campus. But, we don't really have anywhere for students to go talk to their peers, right when a situation happens."

But, thanks to the university’s violence prevention program, that’s about to change. Starting this weekend, student victims of violence can find refuge at UW-Stout’s Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority house.

"They will be able to go to the house, anytime day or night, knock on the door and say I need help,” Bryan said.

"We're really excited to have the opportunity to be able to give back to the Stout community as a whole in such a positive way,” added sorority member, Joanne Ehrmantraut.

Ehrmantraut is the sorority’s oldest chapter member. She says this new program will not only help the student victims, but the Greek group as well.

"People have such a bad view of sororities in general. And we're not bad people,” she said.

And the girls are about to prove it, despite the potential dangers of helping a victim who could have their abuser close behind.

"It's just double checking and making sure that everybody's safe and lights are on when you have to go outside and it's dark."

All while opening their home…and their hearts…to those in need.

"We just want to be there to help and support them. Because just because we're in a sorority doesn't mean that we don't care about the rest of the students on campus,” Ehrmantraut said.

This Saturday will be training day for the sorority members. A number of experts, including an officer from the Menomonie Police Department, will teach the girls how to direct victims to things like medical care and counseling.

In a few weeks, the sorority girls will also go through a self-defense course.