Sexual assault is a very complex issue, one that is often shrouded in silence. While common themes of fear, depression, self-blame, lack of trust, anger, and confusion often exist in response to sexual assault, each survivor's healing process is unique. In addition, it is important to recognize that assault is not an act that is disconnected from sexism, racism, and homophobia. Male survivors, persons of color, and members of the LGBT community all have different experiences of violence.
Breaking the silence is not as simple as telling survivors they should feel empowered to speak up. Many times when survivors do speak, they are faced with comments such as "Well you shouldn't have gone back to his room," or "Why did you drink so much? You should have known better." These comments not only reinforce silences in survivors who haven't come forward, but shift the blame to the survivor. Even well intentioned reactions, such as "Tell me who it is, so I can hurt him" can be disturbing for survivors.
We have to realize that every victim of a sexual assault is someone's loved one; someone's daughter, sister, girlfriend or brother. Sexual assault is not a women's issue, it is not a survivor's issues, it is everyone's issue. There is reason for all of us to care. Perhaps the worst possible injury to victims of sexual assault is our complacency -- when we allow ourselves, by inaction, to create a culture where sexual assault is accepted and ignored, we turn our heads away from victims and perpetuate this cycle of violence and silence.
With the release of the University Women's Initiative findings and the publication of Saturday Night, which highlights the stories of survivors at Duke, there has been increased visibility and dialogue around the topic of sexual assault, and many calls for change. Creating an environment supportive of survivors at Duke requires a comprehensive response that involves support resources, policy development, educational programs and individual action from the members of our community. Sexual Assault Support Services, housed in the Women's Center, was created to provide a central on-campus resource for sexual assault awareness education and support services to student survivors, their friends and family, including advocacy, crisis intervention and ongoing individual and group counseling.
One component in effectively addressing sexual assault issues on campus involves a "top down" administrative approach through policy development as can be seen in our new sexual misconduct policy, which can be viewed at http://deanofstudents.studentaffairs.duke.edu/sxmscondt.html. After a year of careful review of sexual assault policies nationwide, a committee composed of students and staff created a comprehensive new approach to handling sexual misconduct among Duke's undergraduate population. Policy and procedural changes, and a special training for the judicial board, will hopefully allow the University to handle these challenging cases with increased effectiveness and sensitivity.
SASS also helps coordinate a number of outreach programs on campus, reflecting a more "bottom-up" approach that involves individual action. The Sexual Harassment and Rape Prevention (SHARP) Peer Educators provide Duke's community with sexual assault prevention and awareness education in an effort to help create a campus climate that reduces the risk of sexual assault, while also challenging cultural attitudes and misconceptions regarding sexual violence. SHARP members discuss issues of sexual violence during freshman orientation, give presentations to dorms and groups on campus throughout the year, and organize and sponsor Sexual Assault Prevention Week during the spring semester.
SASS is also placing a special emphasis on involving men in our efforts. We're looking for men that want to do something positive and constructive to decrease sexual violence at Duke. We invite men who care about this issue and want to work to decrease violence against women and men here at Duke to join the recently revitalized Men Acting for Change group. If you are passionate about ending the cycle of violence at Duke and role-modeling positive behavior around campus, contact Sourav at ss57@duke.edu about joining MAC.
We'd like to invite women and men inspired by the recent campus dialogue to join us in the numerous ongoing opportunities at Duke to contribute to the movement to end sexual assault. Request a SHARP presentation, fill out an application in January to become a SHARP Peer Educator, join MAC today, or volunteer to help plan Sexual Assault Prevention Week (contact SASS at the Women's Center, 684-3897, for information on these options)! Or, more informally, educate yourself on the issue, support your friends who are survivors, don't tolerate sexist and homophobic jokes and don't let your friends take advantage of others. You've heard the statistics. You've heard some of the stories that lie behind the numbers. You've heard the call for the creation of a Duke community where violence and silence are not tolerated. Change is possible. But it starts with you. What will you do to end violence at Duke?
Jean Leonard is the Sexual Assault Support Services Coordinator. Sourav Sengupta, Kelly Quirk and Kris Spencer are students involved with SASS.
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