After spending years researching and writing the content for a book on college sexual assault–Unsafe On Any Campus? College Sexual Assault, and What We Can Do About It–people have probably guessed that I have a few ideas about what a high-performing anti-sexual assault program might look like. In my final chapter, I outline some of these features, including several strategies and programs that directly and effectively address sexual assault, including:
- A clear and focused mission and vision for their sexual assaultprogram that recognizes the complexity and diversity of modern college campus life while recognizing their duty to lessen the risks and incidence of sexual assault on campus and within the student body.
- Comprehensive sexual assaulteducation programs targeted toward freshman that discuss the legal context, student code of conduct, and clearly identifies resources and processes for addressing sexual assault.
- Incorporation of human sexualityeducation nested in contemporary college student attitudes and behavior to broaden awareness and empathy for diverse viewpoints and establishing individual dignity and sovereignty as a core value.
- Self-defenseeducation and training as primary prevention and risk reduction strategies tailored to the needs of today’s college students.
- Comprehensive bystander education and intervention programs that are well attended and reach out to a broad base of the student body.
- An effective, timely and efficient process for assessing sexual assaultcharges on a case-by-case basis with that protect and support the victim without compromising the rights and dignity of the accused.
- Adjudication procedures that go beyond engaging local law enforcementand the criminal justice system and extending to non-adversarial and more collaborative programs such as Restorative Justice.
- Support services that are traumasensitive to assist and support survivors on their healing journey.
- Well-defined and mutually respectful relationships between college administrators and local law enforcementagencies with trauma sensitive training and procedures in place.
- Active and broad-based participation by student groups in addressing sexual assault, prevention, and risk reduction.
To found out more about how we can make our campuses safer, check out my website CampusNinjaSelfDefense.com.
