USU hosts sixth annual Start by Believing Day
On Wednesday, April 5, Utah State University kicked off Sexual Assault Awareness Month by recognizing Start by Believing Day. This is USU’s sixth year hosting the event after partnering with End Violence Against Women International in 2019 and their Start by Believing national campaign.
EVAWI was founded in 2003 by Sergeant Joanne Archambault. Archambault worked for decades with sexual assault victims and started the foundation to support criminal justice practitioners by giving them the resources they needed to investigate sexual assault cases.
Start by Believing Day itself was launched in April of 2011, and it takes place the first Wednesday of each April to signify the beginning of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Felicia Gallegos, the outreach and prevention coordinator for USU’s Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence Information office, explained the reasons for this partnership were solutions to the campus climate survey on sexual misconduct. She explained barriers students experienced when coming forward with personal experiences of sexual assault.
“One of the biggest barriers that’s continuously reported is that they are afraid they won’t be believed. They are afraid they will be judged or questioned for what they’ve been through, rather than supported or believed,” Gallegos said.
In response to this survey, USU has a goal to accurately show the percentage of students on campus that were willing to believe first. In 2022, USU represented about 80% of pledges from the state of Utah, placing stress on outward messaging for survivors to show them that USU can be a place where they will be supported.
“Not only will they feel seen and safe sharing something so vulnerable, but they also know they’re not alone and are reminded of the fact that it isn’t their fault,” Gallegos said.
The event included two booths with resources for assault survivors both on campus through the SAAVI office and locally around Cache, Rich and Franklin counties with Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).
The SAAVI office at USU also participated, and offered information to students interested in what SAAVI had to offer.
Whitney Howard, a full-time victim advocate for SAAVI, said this event is important for educating people on how to respond to disclosures of sexual violence. SAAVI believes that when a survivor comes forward, it takes immense strength and courage and is a privilege to hear.
“It happens too often where people disclose what happened to them and are met with statements that doubt, question or judge their situation,” Howard said. “Survivors typically go to a friend or family member first, and if they are told something discouraging, it can potentially discourage somebody from getting the health and resources they need.”
SAAVI helps people who have experienced sexual misconduct before or during their time at USU. Their office is free and confidential, offering coping skills and resource connections to provide support to anyone who has experienced sexual assault.
Howard said she feels so privileged to be with people through potentially the hardest thing they’ve ever dealt with in their lives. She encourages those who may be unsure whether they should seek help to come to SAAVI and learn more about their options.
Start by Believing Day kicked off Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and activities are taking place throughout April to continue to encourage faculty, staff and students to make USU a safer place every day.