Observed in April, Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) is an annual campaign designated to raise awareness about sexual assault and rape, and educate on how to prevent sexual violence. The 2014 SAAM campaign is particularly relevant to our campus, specifically because it focuses on healthy sexuality and young people. Whether you're a freshman just finding your fit on campus or a senior preparing to graduate and enter the "real world," this month is about promoting a healthy foundation for relationships, health and sexual violence prevention.
In the past few years at Tufts, there has been a significant push to bring sexual assault into discussions with the administration and on-campus in general. This month, together, we can begin creating an environment in which sexist behaviors, sexual harassment and sexual assault are not condoned, tolerated or ignored. Together, we can share information and educate one another on the importance of consent culture, the dismantling of victim blaming and victim silencing and recognize that sexual assault is a reality at Tufts.
The National Institute of Justice reported that 13.7 percent of undergraduate women have been victims of at least one completed sexual assault since entering college, 4.7 percent were victims of physically forced sexual assault and 7.8 percent of women were sexually assaulted when they were incapacitated after voluntarily consuming drugs, alcohol or both. Among these women, 85 to 90 percent knew who committed the incident. Fewer than five percent of such assaults are reported to the authorities. These numbers are not limited to women: Sexual misconduct crosses racial, gender, sexual and socioeconomic barriers, among others. For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control, seven percent of undergraduate men experienced rape and/or sexual violence, too.
If Tufts is anything like the national averages presented above, then it is clear that we have a serious problem on our hands. In fact, according to the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO), 63 incidents of sexual misconduct were reported to OEO during the 2012-2013 school year.
Beginning this week, you'll find many events occurring on campus having to do with this issue. Students at Tufts, myself included, have been organizing and rallying in solidarity with survivors of sexual misconduct and pushing for acknowledgement of the prevalence and existence of sexual assault on campus. Listen to the stories of Tufts survivors of sexual assault on April 2 at It Happens Here and look out for the recommendations from the Sexual Misconduct Prevention Task Force on April 7. We need to take measures, as a community, to talk about this issue on campus, de-stigmatize seeking help and victims of these actions and create a culture of respect, consent and community. These are just two ways you can get involved in this process, and there will be many more throughout April.
As important as these topics are, so too is the emotional, physical and mental well-being of students who may be triggered by the momentum and publicity of these events. As you are invited to these events and see flyers posted around campus, and as we as a community work to raise awareness about sexual assault, I'd like to highlight some of the resources and support systems available at Tufts, specifically one that is provided by your peers.
Sometimes a well-kept secret here at Tufts, Ears for Peers has been running since 1988, every night of the academic year. It's time to start talking about sexual misconduct, as well as advocate for and more openly talk about the resources available to support survivors or those affected by this issue. Admittedly, at Tufts we have a long way to go in providing adequate support for survivors of sexual misconduct, but there are resources that currently exist to support students. We encourage you to take advantage of them. Ears for Peers, Tufts Counseling and Mental Health Services, as well as the Group of Six (members of the Group of Six - including the LGBT and Women's Centers - are not confidential, as they are mandated to report incidents of sexual misconduct by Title IX to the OEO) and religious leaders on campus, exist as resources for students seeking advice, support and guidance, as does the OEO (also not confidential).
Sexual misconduct happens here at Tufts. We encourage you to attend the events hosted by groups on campus, engage in conversations about sexual misconduct on campus, and work with us to prevent sexual violence and promote healthy relationships. We also encourage you to reach out to the support in place (even if what you want to talk about has nothing to do with sexual misconduct). Confronting our experiences head on can be difficult, but addressing and talking about them can be cathartic, comforting and therapeutic.
Sarah Tralins is a senior majoring in Child Development and is a member of Ears for Peers. She can be reached at Sarah.Tralins@Tufts.edu. To contact Ears for Peers, call 617-627-3888 or IM at TuftsE4P. To log in anonymously, use the username E4PCaller and the password e4pcaller.
