HOUGHTON – Finlandia University and Michigan Technological University are among 22 higher education institutions splitting $500,000 in grant funding for programs to prevent campus sexual assault.

State First Lady Sue Snyder singled out Finlandia University’s proposal as especially impressive. The university got $15,000 for its initiative to distribute bar coasters that can detect the presence of drugs GHB and ketamine.

“You take your straw, put a little bit on the coaster, kind of like a pregnancy test,” said Erin Barnett, director of academic success and student life at Finlandia. “You put some on, and it says whether the chemical is in your drink.”

Barnett said Finlandia hopes to order about 2,000 coasters this fall and get them to local establishments frequented by students starting in January.

“It’s a great opportunity for institutions, especially for Finlandia,” Barnett said. “We’re a smaller school, so it’s an opportunity to be competitive and to get a substantial amount of money that can benefit the school and the community.”

At more than 60 percent of the student body, the male population at Finlandia has grown substantially in recent years. Barnett said the university also plans to have training on campus from the Men Who Can Stop Rape organization and establish the program at Finlandia. The Washington, D.C.-based non-profit aims to mobilize men against violence, particularly violence committed against women.

Michigan Technological University was part of two proposals. It received $17,746 to develop a required course for international students about prevention of sexual violence.

The course will introduce students to the culture of a U.S. college campus. The class will cover the history of discrimination and harassment in the U.S., as well as equality in terms of sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, according to a description of the proposal provided by Tech.

Michigan Tech is also a partner in Lake Superior State University’s $60,000 proposal, along with Northern Michigan University and Bay College. Students from those campuses will undergo training to work with fellow students to address and prevent sexual assault.