A call to action for rape awareness on campus
By: Amee Wurzberg
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: Opinion
Did you know that one out of every six American women have been victims of sexual assault? That college age women are four times more likely to be sexually assaulted? That 15 percent of sexual assault and rape victims are under the age of 12? That every two minutes, a woman in America is raped (National Institute of Justice & Centers for Disease Control & Prevention; U.S. Department of Justice)?
These are facts. Here is another fact: Mount Holyoke does not provide a support group for sexual assault survivors. The College also lacks a peer education group on campus, and the administration does not make sexual assault education and awareness a priority.
How can Mount Holyoke leader in women's education and empowerment-not provide these services for its students? This issue affects every woman at Mount Holyoke-if you have not personally experienced assault, it is likely that a friend or family member of yours has. Enduring that ordeal is difficult enough and Mount Holyoke is doing a huge disservice to its community by not providing education and support for these women.
Discussion of sexual violence has always been taboo, and survivors often feel invisible and isolated. This is only intensified by the lack of support from the administration, as many survivors have stated that they feel unseen and unsupported by the school. Mount Holyoke as an institution has a responsibility to serve the needs of its students, and the school is currently not adequately supporting its survivors.
Several students from the Sexual and Gender-based Violence Awareness Committee recently presented the administration with three main recommendations of how the college can actively support survivors of sexual violence on campus: First, the Sexual Assault Misconduct Policy Mount Holyoke is creating should address not only consequences for the perpetrator, but support for the victim as well. Second, the Counseling Center should offer support groups for survivors. While the Everywoman's Center in Amherst is an excellent resource for women, it is important that Mount Holyoke creates a safe space for survivors to connect with one another within our community. Finally, there should be an ongoing effort to create awareness and visibility around sexual violence. The Health and Counseling Centers should increase their efforts to provide education and resources, and to serve as advocates for survivors of sexual violence.
These are facts. Here is another fact: Mount Holyoke does not provide a support group for sexual assault survivors. The College also lacks a peer education group on campus, and the administration does not make sexual assault education and awareness a priority.
How can Mount Holyoke leader in women's education and empowerment-not provide these services for its students? This issue affects every woman at Mount Holyoke-if you have not personally experienced assault, it is likely that a friend or family member of yours has. Enduring that ordeal is difficult enough and Mount Holyoke is doing a huge disservice to its community by not providing education and support for these women.
Discussion of sexual violence has always been taboo, and survivors often feel invisible and isolated. This is only intensified by the lack of support from the administration, as many survivors have stated that they feel unseen and unsupported by the school. Mount Holyoke as an institution has a responsibility to serve the needs of its students, and the school is currently not adequately supporting its survivors.
Several students from the Sexual and Gender-based Violence Awareness Committee recently presented the administration with three main recommendations of how the college can actively support survivors of sexual violence on campus: First, the Sexual Assault Misconduct Policy Mount Holyoke is creating should address not only consequences for the perpetrator, but support for the victim as well. Second, the Counseling Center should offer support groups for survivors. While the Everywoman's Center in Amherst is an excellent resource for women, it is important that Mount Holyoke creates a safe space for survivors to connect with one another within our community. Finally, there should be an ongoing effort to create awareness and visibility around sexual violence. The Health and Counseling Centers should increase their efforts to provide education and resources, and to serve as advocates for survivors of sexual violence.