Be clear about consent

Consent should never be presumed ­ Healthy relationships are established via communication, and unless clearly consensual, contact should not be pursued. Intoxication, silence, body language, and any kind of incapacitation is not an invitation. When in doubt, the answer is “No.” [7]

Photo source: Wikimedia Commons: http://bit.ly/Ss4Oyo

Know your resources

National Sexual Violence Resource Center nsvrc.org

Mentors in Violence Prevention mvpnational.org

Response Ability raproject.org

PACT5 pact5.org

Men Can Stop Rape mencanstoprape.org

See your campus administrators for on­campus

resources, regulations, and policies.

What does the bible say?

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter…” ­ 1 Thessalonians 4:3­6 In First Thessalonians, Paul writes to the church of Thessalonica about “Christian conduct, especially sexuality and personal relationships.”[1] Paul believes that Christ will return within his lifetime, so behaving ethically is especially important! In these passages, he clearly states that sexual aggression against another is not a Christian value.

Photo source: user prayitno on flickr:

https://flic.kr/p/7V8E4V Be suspicious of biblical interpretations which support sexual violence ­ many translations of the original text choose biased phrasings which reinforce cultural paradigms. If a passage doesn’t seem right, try reading it in the original language!

Behind Closed Doors

Photo source: user aquafox on flickr:

https://flic.kr/p/5cX7xa

How to prevent and handle incidents of sexual violence as a residential leader on a

Christian campus

Sexual assault is a real problem.

According to a study published in the American Journal of College Health, roughly 1 in 5 women experience attempted or completed sexual assault during their undergraduate program. [4]

According to Dianna E. Anderson of RH Reality Check, “A theology that positions the colleges as better and safer than their secular counterparts also creates an environment in which a person coming forward about rape risks being seen as ‘impure’ and ’broken.’ [5]

It is important to provide a safe learning environment.

Protecting others is a biblical duty

“Judge the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and destitute. Rescue the poor and needy; deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.” ­ Psalms 82:3 According to bible.org’s interpretation of Psalms 82:3, this passage defines a “godly” leader by “what [s/]he does on behalf of the poor and the oppressed.”[9] As a leader in your residence hall, and as a leader to your peers, you should be concerned for those people who may be oppressed by others. Sexual violence is a serious act of oppression, and victims may feel that they are alone. Be a good and “godly” leader ­ pay attention and help where you can.

Title IX

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 federally protects the civil rights of campus community members, prohibiting sex discrimination in any activity or program that receives federal funding. This includes all on­campus activities of public or private institutions that receive federal funding. [2] In context with Title IX, sex discrimination is inclusive of: sexual assault, sexual battery, rape, or sexual harassment that is “so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively bars the victim’s access to educational opportunity or benefit.” [3] As a student leader, you may be a primary contact for students who have experienced or committed acts of sexual assault, violence, or discrimination. Students, staff, educators, and members of the larger community are eligible to file discrimination complaints with the Office of Civil Rights (OCR). Please direct your students to appropriate on­campus resources.

For more ways that you and others can help prevent sexual violence, view our sexual assault prevention

toolkit at:

www.relswgs.wordpress.com

What can student leaders do to prevent sexual violence?

Have consistent, open, communicative

relationships with all of your students. Let them know you’re a safe point of contact.

Encourage students to define themselves, their values, and their sexual limits. Once these values are compromised, a student needs to take action. [8]

Note that drugs and alcohol are often involved in situations of sexual assault. Actively enforce campus policies regarding alcohol and drug use.

Challenge student attitudes that create an unsafe environment. Speak one­on­one with students you feel may become violent, or reach out to a campus authority for assistance.

What should you do if you discover

sexual assault in your residence?

Explicitly state that you take the situation seriously and are responsible for reporting situations that threaten student safety.

Listen to your student, and make an appropriate referral to Health Services, Psychological Services, Campus Police, and/or a Residential Director. [6]

Describe campus policy and procedures for reporting ­ never discourage a student from filing a report of the incident.

If needed, reach out to faculty mentors on campus who serve on student discipline panels.

Gain clarity on your participation in TItle IX disputes to safeguard yourself in the case of a subsequent criminal proceeding. [6]