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.

ReferencesMcMahon,  (2014). Utilizing Peer Education Theater for the Primary

Prevention of Sexual Violence on College Campuses. Journal

of college student development, 55(1), 78.

Rape and Sexual Assault: A Renewed Call to Action. The White House

Council on Women and Girls, January 2014.