Sexual Assault Education, Prevention, and Response Programs

The College addresses sexual assault education, prevention and response with a team approach through collaboration between three key offices: Health Services, Student Affairs and Public Safety. The following provides an overview of these activities.

Health Services

Health Services offers the following services to students who believe they have been victims of sexual assault:

Medical Care: Health Services offers comprehensive medical care to students who believe they have been victims of sexual violence or assault - including exams, treatment of any injuries, emergency contraception, STD testing, pregnancy testing, HIV testing, etc. In addition to their initial medical visit, most students return for at least one follow up visit with a member of the Medical staff to assess their healing, go over test results, and continue to discuss reporting options and available resources if the student still has questions and/or concerns.
Health Services staff members do not collect evidence or “rape kits,” as they require special handling which Health Services is not equipped to do. However, the staff provides information on the value of having a rape kit collected, if appropriate, and the student wants to have one collected, the staff will assist the student in going to Lawrence Hospital for that purpose.
Reporting: Health Services (and the local Rape Crisis Hotline) is, by law, the only confidential reporting place on campus. Both the Medical and Mental Health staff educate students about the value of reporting and help them understand the reporting process as well as student’s resources on and off campus. Education and awareness efforts regarding this subject have been improved. We also provide students with the numbers for off-campus agencies to provide as many reporting options and information about support resources as possible.
Support Group: Health Services is sponsoring a group this year for survivors of sexual assault. We have attempted to provide one in the past but groups only run if there are enough students who present with this issue and are interested in a group. We haven’t had one in a couple of years (including when ACCESS was around) because of lack of interested students. Three students (the minimum needed to form a group) have presented and are interested in a group and the group is in the formation process.
Individual Therapy: Health Services Mental Health staff provide individual therapy for students who believe they have been sexually assaulted or have been affected by this issue in their lives. Many students choose individual therapy as their treatment of choice in this instance, and whenever possible, students are offered both an individual and group option for their treatment needs.

Student Affairs:

The Student Affairs office is the point on the following collaborative efforts with Health Services and Public Safety.

New sexual assault education and prevention website: A new sexual assault education and prevention website was launched this summer to replace the old, out-of-date, ACCESS website. This is a pilot website and will be reviewed regularly for improvements. Ideas and suggestions are welcome.
New Sexual Assault brochures: A new brochure was created this summer in response to feedback from students. The brochure will be reviewed and updated regularly.
New “What to do”/Help wallet cards: A small, wallet sized card was created with basic information on what to do if you are assaulted as well as the key campus and crisis hotline phone numbers.
Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Policy: Some work was done on the policy over the summer, but it is clear that a more comprehensive review is needed. It has been several years since the current policy was written. Therefore, a policy review committee is being formed (see last section for more details).
Hearing Board: We have trained board members from previous years and will conduct this year’s training as soon as the new faculty members have been appointed. Training is coordinated by the Dean of Student Affairs and the Director of Human Resources.

Student Affairs/Health Services/Public Safety collaboration:

Educational programs and/or passive programming: In conjunction with the Resident Advisor staff, the Sexual Assault Awareness Committee, and the Health Education Program Committee educational programs are offered during the year.
Sexual Assault subcommittee: This committee replaces the old ACCESS committee. The ACCESS committee met 3- 4 times a year and was a place for the ACCESS director to report out, but was not an action or programming group. The new committee was formed last year (the SA Education and Outreach committee) and is jointly moderated by the Assistant Director of Health Services and the Dean of Student Affairs. The committee reports out at each Committee on Student Life meeting.
Orientation Programs: Two programs addressing sexual assault were offered during Orientation this year. The first was part of the Safety and Security session during which a Victims Assistance Services (VAS) video was shown and a discussed. In addition, a professional sexual assault education group also presented an evening performance, called Sex Signals. The program was an interactive theatre group that addressed communication issues and helped students process the ambiguity that is often involved in campus sexual assault situations in an engaging and powerful way. Several students commented after the event that they found the program addressed this difficult issue in an approachable and non-judgmental manner. Victims Assistance Services (VAS) had planned on participating in both programs, but unfortunately, due to the Labor Day holiday they were unable to do so. They are committed to supporting the College and to provide information, resources and training regularly.
Crisis Response: Health Services, Public Safety, and Student Affairs offices provide crisis management and advocacy for students affected by sexual assault during the day and after hours/weekends. After hours and weekend response is provided through the College’s on-call team which responds to any student emergency at night or on the weekends.
The on-call team members are not part of the Health Services staff and therefore cannot maintain the confidentiality of a student if they reveal that they have been assaulted. If a student needs assistance in getting emergency medical care they may do so simply by calling Westlands Desk and asking to speak to the on-call doctor or to be transported to the hospital. The student does not need to tell the Public Safety staff the reason. Students who are not sure they want to report an assault but want information about resources and their options may one of the 24-hour crisis hotlines found in the brochure, the website, or the help card.

Training:

Public Safety: The Public Safety staff are trained annually by Victims Assistance Services (VAS), the Dean of Student Affairs, and the Director of Residence Life in how to respond to a student/victim, confidentiality, College policy, and campus and off-campus resources. Public Safety staff are also trained in domestic violence issues and response.
Residence Life Staff Training: The Resident Advisors and Graduate Assistants are trained annually by Victims Assistance Services, the Dean of Student Affairs, and the Director of Residence Life in how to respond to a student/victim, confidentiality, College policy and campus and off-campus resources.
Health Services: In addition to the professional training both the Medical and Mental Health staff have, each year the staff participates in a refresher training about the College’s policy, support resources, and crisis response protocol so they are prepared to share this information with students in a confidential setting. This training takes place early each fall and involves the entire Health Services staff, the Director of Public Safety, and the Dean of Student Affairs.

Public Safety:

New self defense workshop: The Director of Public Safety worked with the Campbell Sports Center staff to offer a self-defense workshop this fall. The Director acted in response to student members’ of last year’s Sexual Assault Education and Awareness committee request and interest in such a program. The workshop is going well and discussions are underway to offer self-defense for credit as a PE class.

Committees with responsibility for sexual assault education, prevention, and policy recommendations:

Students, faculty and staff with questions, ideas or concerns about various aspects of the College’s sexual assault education, prevention and response program should contact the appropriate group below.

Health Education Programming Committee: This subcommittee of the Committee on Student Life is responsible for planning and implementing programs and activities which address various health issues including, but not limited to, alcohol and other drug education, eating disorders, sexual assault, etc. Contact: Dina Nunziato, Assistant Director of Health Services.
Sexual Assault Education and Prevention Committee: This subcommittee of the Committee on Student Life is responsible for reviewing the College’s education and prevention efforts (including Orientation programs, the website, and brochures), planning educational programs, and hearing from community members about issues or concerns regarding the sexual assault education, prevention and response on campus. Contacts: Dina Nunziato, Assistant Director of Health Services, or Mary Spellman, Dean of Student Affairs.
Sexual Assault Policy Committee: This committee is charged with reviewing the current Sexual Assault Policy and making recommendations regarding the policy to General Committee and the President. As the policy applies to all members of the Sarah Lawrence community, it will be comprised of faculty, staff, and students. Contact: Mary Spellman, Dean of Student Affairs.