1. Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence

2. Before We Begin

3. I can interrupt a situation involving sexual misconduct.
I am confident!
I think so.
Not sure.
Probably not

4. Think-Pair-Share

5. Why is this a college issue?
According to Title IX:
A school has a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively.
If a school knows or reasonably should know about sexual harassment or sexual violence that creates a hostile environment, the school must take immediate action to eliminate the sexual harassment or sexual violence, prevent its recurrence, and address its effects.

6. What does it have to do with Title IX?
US Dept. of Ed, Office of Civil Rights:
No person in the United States shall on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance….sexual harassment can constitute discrimination prohibited by Title IX.
Many of us think of Title IX as relating to gender equity in athletics. This extends Title IX to recognizing that sexual harassment inhibits full access to opportunities.

7. What is the role of college athletics?
“Athletics has a unique platform on most campuses from which is can visibly and vocally support its colleagues across campus who are working to make the campus safer for all students.”
NCAA’s Addressing Sexual Assault and Interpersonal Violence: Athletics’ Role in Support of Healthy and Safe Campuses
This underscores the opportunity for student-athletes to be leaders in creating positive culture change. This is key so that student-athletes recognize that this is about their leadership potential, and that they are not being engaged with because they are somehow seen as part of the problem. Reading the NCAA document references above can help with understanding the philosophy of the NCAA as to the unique role of student-athletes in preventing sexual assault and interpersonal (including relationship) violence on college campuses.

8. Which behaviors are prohibited?
Unwanted Touching
Intimate Partner Abuse or Violence
Domestic Violence
Dating Violence
Sexual Assault
Sexual Exploitation
Stalking
Gender-based Harassment
Retaliation
Take the time to define/give examples. Consult with campus partners on language used on your campus.
*Unwanted touching
*Intimate partner abuse or violence (violence may seem to apply only physical violence, but this refers to a range of verbal and emotional abuse as well).
*Domestic violence (less prevalent in a traditional college population, but occurs in non-traditional aged students and also faculty/staff).
*Dating violence.
*Sexual assault (oral, anal, or digital penetration).
*Sexual exploitation (e.g. posting nude photos of a partner online without consent).
*Stalking–As defined by Clery: Ongoing conduct that could cause a reasonable person to fear for the safety of themselves or others, or suffer emotional distress (e.g., following, monitoring, threatening, communicating to or about the victim, or interfering with a victim’s property)
*Gender-based harassment– this includes harassment related to a person’s gender presentation and/or identity.
*Retaliation– retaliation by or on half of either the complainant or respondent is prohibited.
Complainant– term for someone brining a complaint to the title IX office
Respondent– term for the person who is the subject of a complaint to the Title IX office
These terms may be the most neutral available. “Potential complainant” and “potential respondent” can be used when no complaint has been made.
These differ in emotional impact than “accuser” and “accused”, which might be avoided if possible.

9. How often does this happen?
In the last 12 months, were you: -Sexually touched without consent 8.7% -A victim of stalking 5.5% -In an intimate relationship that was Emotionally abusive 8.6% Physically abusive 1.9% Sexually abusive 1.9% -Penetration (oral, anal, vaginal) was attempted or completed without consent 5.2%
(ACHA-NCHA-II, Spring 2015, n = 74,438)

10. I have experienced unwanted sexual touching.
Yes
Not sure No

11. How often does this happen?
Since enrolled in the college, 9.8% of the student population who had been in a partnered relationship reported experiencing intimate partner violence.
Overall, 4.2% of students reported that they had been the victims of stalking since first enrolling at the college or university.
(American Association of Universities, Spring 2015)

12. Reporting
Sexual assault is one of the most unreported types of crime. Why do you think this might be?
*Know that there is a false reporting rate of only about 2%, about the same as any other major crime.

13. How to help someone who discloses an issue related to sexual misconduct.
Listen. Let the person name their own experience. Ask if the person feeling safe and if they need medical care. Offer to contact a confidential resource. Contact your Title IX Coordinator.
*Understand expectations and resources on your own campus. Make resources available both now and later.
*Know that it can take, on average, 11 months for someone to disclose.
*As much as possible, let the victim/survivor take control of their own experience. The assault/misconduct took away agency and power, so refrain from telling them what they “must” or “have” to do and instead be open to support their choices.

14. The Step UP! Model Notice the Event Interpret it as a problem
Assume personal responsibility
Know how to help
Implement the help – Step UP!

15. Strategies Direct Indirect “Stealth” In a group Using resources
In the moment vs. the next day

16. Consent: Key components
Mutual
Enthusiastic
Freely given
Ongoing, each step of the way
Verbal?
Role of alcohol?
Other incapacitation
(e.g. sleeping, passed out)

17. Scenario
You are at a campus event and the person next to you makes a sexist joke. You look at the other people around you, but no one says anything.

18. Scenario
You are hanging out with friends outside of a party. A woman walks by in a short skirt and a sheer shirt. One of the people hanging out with you makes a comment about how “she’s definitely asking for it.”

19. Scenario
You’re at a dance party and someone comes up behind one of your friends and starts grinding on them. You are unsure how your friend feels about this.

20. Think – Pair – Share
What do you know about the relationship between alcohol and sexual assault?
Between 40-75% of sexual assaults on college campuses involve alcohol use by victim, perpetrator or both
*Know your college’s policy regarding alcohol and consent before the session. (Avoid excessive emphasis on specifics of the policy– if you suspect someone might be too drunk to consent to sex, then they are probably too drunk, and the priority should be on caring for them.)
*Allow participants to talk in pairs and report back to the group before sharing the statistic about alcohol and sexual assault.
*It is CRITICAL to make clear that alcohol use by the victim DOES NOT mean the victim is in ANY WAY at fault. Victims may be more vulnerable or less likely to notice coercive or pressuring behaviors when alcohol is involved. This increases the need for active bystanders to look out for them.
*Alcohol is a risk factor for perpetration of sexual assault, particularly for people who have other risk factors. This increases the need for active bystanders to pay attention to them.
*This is a time to discuss blackouts (failure to make short term memories), as people might not remember if they asked for consent, if they received consent, or if any conversation of consent occurred.
*Make time to discuss the ways in which alcohol, which narrows attention to salient cues and interferes with long-term planning, can interfere with understanding consent.
*Contrast alcohol with the prevalence of “date-rape drugs”, which are present in less than 2% of reported attempted or completed sexual assaults. Alcohol is, in effect, the most common date rape drug.

21. Agree-Unsure-Disagree
It’s okay for two adults who are drunk to have sex

22. Scenario
You are at a party. You see someone you know talking to someone who seems so drunk that they are having trouble standing. The person you know puts their arm around the other person and starts to take them upstairs.

23. In the previous scenario, what would you want someone to do for you?
Nothing– its none of their business
High five me!
Slip a condom in my pocket
Text me to see if I know what I’m doing
Check in with me in person
Something else

24. Who is the most at risk? The drunk person
The person who is trying to get them upstairs
The person who bought the alcohol
You, if you get involved

25. Scenario
You are at Sunday brunch and your friends are talking about what happened Saturday night. One of your friends who left with someone they have had a crush on is being pressured to share details.

26. Scenario
You are returning home to your room and in the room next door, you can hear a couple loudly arguing. The language grows increasingly abusive.

27. Scenario
One of your teammates seems to never take part in team activities outside of practice– team dinners, social events, event community service. When you check in with your teammate, they say that their partner already thinks they spend too much time with the team, and prefers they have dinner with just the two of them everyday.

28. Scenario
You are going out with one of your friends and they tell you they don’t want to hook up with anyone tonight. About an hour into your night, your friend has been dancing really close with someone and they start heading to the door getting ready to leave together.

29. Campus and Local Resources

30. National Resources
National Sexual Violence Resource Center
Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network HOPE

31. I can interrupt a situation involving sexual misconduct.
I am confident!
I think so.
Not sure.
Probably not

32. Raise your hand if you will:
Notice the event– pay attention
Interpret as a problem– learn more
Assume responsibility– get involved
Know what to do– learn more
Do something—Step Up!
*University of Arizona Step Up! video adds energy and showcases a diversity of students
*This is a commitment device– participants are committing publicly/in front of peers of their intention to act
*Changing the culture on our campuses from one that allows for sexual assault and relationship violence to one that actively promotes sexual assault will require everyone playing an active role.

33. Jen Jacobsen, Director of Wellness & Prevention
Grinnell College