Red Zone spreads awareness of campus sexual assault
By: Manda Perkins
Assistant News Editor
Graduate student Sarah Griggs interns with the Family Support Center. Kylee Larsen photo
Nationally during the months of August through November, acts of sexual violence are most prevalent on college campuses. That’s why the Utah State University Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence Information office held Red Zone on Wednesday to inform students, faculty and staff of the resources available to them when they, or someone they know, are a survivor of sexual violence.
According to the 2007 Campus Sexual Assault Study, fifty percent of the sexual assaults that happen on college campuses occur in the months of August, September, October or November. Because of these statistics, this time of the year has been labeled the “red zone.”
Jenny Erazo, SAAVI coordinator, said this the first year the office has held this event for several years, highlighting the relevance of a national problem that is very applicable to USU.
“It absolutely happens here on our campus,” Erazo said. “That’s the purpose of this event; to let students know that it will happen to you. Statistically, we’re not far off from the average that 1 in 4 women will be sexually assault while at college.”
The Taggart Student Center Patio was lined with booths, each offering information on the resources available to the USU community when they find themselves in situations of violence.
Amanda Gibb, a senior majoring in social work who interns with the SAAVI office, said there are a multitude of resources available to the campus community.
“I feel like the problem is that people don’t know about them,” she said. “Often people don’t know what the SAAVI office is or where it is, so I think the problem is people don’t know how to access their resources.”
Senior Amanda Gibb, a SAAVI intern volunteers at the Red Zone booth during common Hour on Wednesday. Kylee Larsen Photo
One of the entities present Wednesday was the Community Abuse Prevention Services Agency, or CAPSA, which provides advocacy and a safe place for survivors of violence in the community.
Sara Owen, a CAPSA employee, said their mission during Red Zone was to inform students of the off-campus resource available them. CAPSA works closely with the SAAVI office to help students who need off-campus advocacy and shelter from violent situations.
“I think the hard thing is, department wise, social work, psychology, sociology, they’re going to have a lot of people who know about (CAPSA) through practicums or internships or volunteer work,” Owen said. “But we have lots of the other departments that might not know about it because it’s not really the field they work in, so try to do lots of presentations up here.”
The Access and Diversity Center was also on the patio with information on resources available to all students. Michelle Bogdan-Holt, director of non-traditional student programs, said the diversity center wants to raise awareness that domestic violence and sexuall assault impacts all groups.
“At the same time, we want to make sure that we are breaking down any stereotypes,” Hold said. “Sometimes folks will assume that members of the LGBT community are more apt to have some things happen, and that’s not true. We’re here, armed with facts and stats to break down barriers.”
Although topics of sexual violence are to be taken seriously, Red Zone featured several lighter activities to help make the message more accessible and welcoming. This included a donut eating contest Erazo said, “we are taking a bite out of crime one donut a time.”
“We know it’s a serious, serious subject, but this is one way we can get people to talk about it and raise awareness,” she said.
SAAVI also held the Red Zone Contents; students were tasked with walking to each booth on the patio to answer questions. Those who visited every booth and answered every question were entered into a prize drawing for a USU Campus Store gift card and other Aggie gear.
With the Howl right around the corner, Erazo said students should work together to prevent acts of violence.
“Understand that without an enthusiastic, ‘yes,’ consent is not given,” she said. “Without consent it is rape. If you’re part of this Aggie family, we should all have each other’s backs. If you see something that doesn’t seem right, say something.”
一@perkins_manda