changing the campus culture surrounding sexual violence: a plan for suny buffalo state contributors:...
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Changing the Campus Culture Surrounding Sexual Violence:A Plan for SUNY Buffalo State
Contributors: Annie Connors
Jennifer McLaurinAnthony Nicosia
Joanna Stein
“We must do more to raise awareness about the realities of
sexual assault; confront and change insensitive attitudes
wherever they persist, enhance training and education in the criminal justice system, and
expand access to critical health, legal and protection services for
survivors.”
President Barack Obama, April 2012
Introduction
In response to President Obama’s call to address sexual assault on
college campuses nationwide, and to our own students’ desire for the
same, SUNY Buffalo State has developed a task force to address sexual violence on our campus.
The Cold Hard Facts• 1 in 5 women has been sexually
assaulted while in college• Most victims know their assailants• It’s not just women, almost 1.6 million
men have reported being raped at some point in their lifetime
• College survivors of sexual violence suffer high rates of depression, drug or alcohol abuse and PTSD
(The White House Council on Women and Girls, 2014)
ObjectivesThe task force will develop programs, policies and protocols that:
• Prevent sexual misconduct• Change the paradigm from victims protecting themselves
from sexual violence to a culture where sexual violence is considered unacceptable and bystanders take an active role in prevention
• Clarify myths v. facts about sexual violence• Accommodate the unique needs of survivors of sexual
violence• Ensure the rights of those accused of sexual• violence are met• Educate the campus community on how to define “consent”
InvolvementTo address the issue of sexual violence on our campus, we recognize that everyone must be involved. Programs, policies and protocols developed by the task force will address and engage the entire campus community. Additionally, the task force itself will consist of members from different parts of the campus community including:
• Student Affairs Educators from multiple functional areas
• Faculty Members from a variety of disciplines• Students who are passionate about addressing the issue of sexual violence on campus
How Will the Task Force Work?
• Task force meetings will be held biweekly
• Committees will be formed to work on specific initiatives*
• Annual meetings after implementation of all new initiatives, policies and procedures is complete*
• Programs will be assessed annually*
Policies & Procedures
• Current institutional policies and procedures regarding sexual violence will be reviewed by the task force to ensure that federal, state and local regulations are being met and that the policies and procedures in effect are practical and appropriate. Revisions will be made as needed.
• All policies and procedures will be reviewed by the task force annually and revised if necessary.
Policies & Procedures• New policies and procedures will be
developed where none exist. The task force will ensure that any newly developed policies and procedures are practical, appropriate and meet any federal, state
and local regulations.• Policies and protocols will address, but will
not be limited to sexual assault, relationship violence, sexual harassment and stalking. Policies will included definitions of each of these forms of sexual violence.
Initiatives
• Health and Counseling Center Involvement
• Student Education, Training and Involvement
• Faculty, Staff, Administration (FSA) Education and Involvement
• Campus Awareness
Health and Counseling Center Initiatives
• Develop a 24 hour sexual violence hotline with texting capabilities*
• Recruit volunteers to serve as advocates*
• Develop group counseling sessions for survivors and friends.
Health and Counseling Center Initiatives
• Make informational materials available in waiting areas at Health and Counseling Centers*
• Require Health and Counseling Center staff to attend both sexual violence training and a diversity workshop annually in an effort to ensure that staff are prepared to accommodate survivors from all populations.
• Ensure that there is at least one counselor on staff whose training and focus is primarily
sexual violence.*
Student Education, Training and Involvement: SCREAM
Theatre
• Develop SCREAM theatre peer education improvisational theatre program Implement SCREAM theatre as a part of
New Student OrientationOrganize SCREAM theatre performances
in residence halls
Student Education, Training and Involvement: SCREAM
Theatre
SCREAM theatre (Students Challenging Realities and Educating Against Myths)
educates audiences on issues of interpersonal violence, specifically on sexual assault, domestic and dating
violence, stalking and sexual harassment.
Student Education, Training and Involvement: SCREAM
Theatre• Student educators receive training and
information regarding interpersonal violence, develop fictional charters and get comfortable with acting
• Student educators then develop scenarios based on occurrences on their campus and act these situations out in front of an audience of their peers*
• There is no script, so no two performances are identical
Student Education, Training and Involvement: SCREAM
Theatre• After the performance, peer educators stay in
character and field questions from the audience*
• In the final stage of the program, educators come out of character, introduce themselves, explain the importance of their character and provide an educational message addressing sexual violence
• Audience members are provided with important resources at the conclusion of the performance*
Student Education, Training and Involvement: SCREAM
TheatreWhy SCREAM Theatre?
• Research shows that peer education on the topic of sexual violence is more effective when facilitated by peers than by professionals (McMahon, 2014)*
• After attending a SCREAM performance, audience members have shown:A significant decrease in rape myth
acceptanceA significant increase in positive attitudes to
intervene as a bystander (McMahon, 2014)
Student Education, Training and Involvement: SCREAM Theatre
Why SCREAM Theatre?• It promotes bystander intervention.
This approaches sexual violence as a community issue not just an issue for the victim*
• It is cost effective, well received by students and emotionally powerful form of engagement
FSA Education and Involvement
• Work with Counseling Center to develop Sexual Assault and Sexual Violence Awareness Training geared toward campus employees
• Training will be developed using the Counseling Center’s existing Active Bystander program as a foundation.
FSA Education and Involvement
What Will the Training Include?• Institution’s sexual offense statistics which are
tracked in accordance with the Clery Act• Information about the SaVE Act• Bystander intervention training*• A review of campus policies and procedures
surrounding sexual violence• Detailed instructions on what to do if a student
or colleague reports that they have been a victim of sexual violence
• How to promote a campus culture where sexual
violence is unacceptable
FSA Education and Involvement
Who Will Be Required to Participate?• Faculty• Professional Staff• Paraprofessional Staff• Administrators• Union Employees
Campus Awareness Initiatives
• Design Activities for Sexual Violence Awareness Week*
• Launch a poster campaign throughout campus
• Utilize social media to educate the campus community about sexual violence and sexual violence prevention
Campus Awareness
WHERE DO YOU STAND?Monday, April 7th 2014
8pm in the Campus Lounge
CONSENT IS SEXYTuesday, April 8th 2014
6pm in the Campus Lounge
Awareness Week Events
WHAT IS CONSENT? Wednesday, April 9th, 2014
12-2pm in the Outdoor Quad
FIND YOUR VOICE CAMPAIGN Thursday, April 10th, 20143pm in the Residents Halls
Campus Awareness
Awareness Week Events
TEAL FLAG SILENT MARCH Friday, April 11th, 2014
1pm in the Outdoor Quad
Awareness Week Events
Campus Awareness
Campus AwarenessSocial Media Campaign
• Create a “Buffalo State United Against Sexual Violence” Facebook page and post information, facts and current articles. Encourage students to “like” this page by including “Like us on Facebook” on all informational materials including bookmarks, brochures and posters
• Create a twitter account and regularly post
“fast facts”• Record SCREAM Theatre performances
and post on YouTube• Educate students about the “Circle of 6”
app and encourage them to use it*
Funding
The task force will apply for a grant from the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women to fund
the initiatives presented here.