Campus Resources and Internet Activism
In its resource manual, STAAR (Students Together Against Acquaintance
Rape), an anti-violence peer education group at the University
of Pennsylvania, explains why college populations are in particular
need of sexual violence education:
"-- Many students are still in late adolescence, and are struggling
with a transition to full adulthood. Sexual decision-making is part
of this struggle.
-- Most members of this population are making their sexual decisions
in an environment perceived as freer than their home environment.
Students may find this freedom empowering, others may find it overwhelming.
-- Experimentation with sexual behaviors and sexual partners is
more frequent and more visible in this environment than in most
others which students have experienced.
-- Alcohol and other drug use is often higher in this environment
than in students' home environment, or in the work environment they
are planning to enter. Use of alcohol and other drugs influences
many students' sexual behaviors while enrolled.
-- For some students, college may be the first time that extensive
interaction with members of the other gender has been permitted.
For many more, it is the first time that extensive interaction with
self-identified lesbians, gays, and bisexuals is possible.
-- This population is encouraged to intellectualize and compete,
sometimes at the expense of taking ownership for personal values
and feelings. Education about sexual health means preparing to engage
in debate with students, and to help students clarify their personal
values." (http://dolphin.upenn.edu/~staar/manual/introduction.html)
Examples of on-line health resources/emergency advice for victims:
STAAR (http://dolphin.upenn.edu/~staar/manual)
SAFER (http://www.safer.org)
V-Day (http://www.vday.org/index2.cfm?ArticleID=564)
Campus Outreach Services (gender-violence education speakers) (www.campusoutreachservices.com)
-- Katie Koestner and Brett Sokolow sexual assault prevention workshop
(http://www.campusoutreachservices.com/ucmprograms.htm,
http://www.campusoutreachservices.com/brettprograms.htm
for new students)
Seventh Annual National Student Conference on Campus Sexual Violence
(http://www.sa.ucsb.edu/orgs/rpep/conf.htm)
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