For the Undergraduate Student Government, the decision to sponsor the Start by Believing campaign to support victims of sexual assault was an easy one, with a unanimous vote on Oct. 13.
Unfortunately, according to Emily Erickson, Sexual Misconduct Prevention Coordinator at St. Thomas, the stigma surrounding sexual assaults makes it difficult for victims to find this unwavering support.
Erickson said she knows that victims often have a hard time telling others about their assault. By joining the nationwide Start by Believing campaign, which works to encourage others to believe victims when they come to them about a sexual assault, Erickson hopes to end the stigma surrounding the issue.
“When people are affected by sexual violence or stalking or dating violence, it’s a really underreported crime,” Erickson said. “One of the barriers is this fear that their friends or their social circle isn’t going to believe them.”
The Start by Believing campaign is in addition to the Not Anymore education program that all students are required to complete. The Start by Believing campaign does not require any additional training for students, but events will be held throughout the year to raise awareness.
Holds are now placed on student accounts for those who haven’t completed the Not Anymore training either last year or this year. Students must complete the training in order to register for classes.
Erickson received student feedback from the Not Anymore training, with most of the comments asking for more information on how to help out a loved one who has been affected by sexual assault. While the Not Anymore training is an important tool, Erickson felt that more needed to be done.
“One thing we know about sexual assault prevention is it can’t just be a one-time training and that’s it. It needs to be sort of an ongoing community engagement in these issues,” Erickson said. “We want to provide lots of ways that students and staff and faculty can engage in this issue beyond just a one-time required training.”
Erickson is working on organizing some discussion panels and other awareness events throughout the school year, but there aren’t many set plans yet. A major focus of the campaign will be in April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
USG created a resolution to officially sponsor Start by Believing, which can be found on its website. The resolution states that USG will be attending Start by Believing events and offering support as student advocates.
Jay Copland, Vice President of Academic Affairs for USG, knew that the decision to support Start by Believing was important to keep the campaign moving forward.
“I’m just really hoping that it gets the message out there because this is one of those subjects, along with mental health, that gets kind of pushed in the corner,” Copland said. “It’s a problem, and it exists, but we don’t talk about it.”
Erickson believes that more open communication and compassion can help end the stigma that surrounds sexual assault victims.
“Research shows that the first person they disclose their sexual assault to — how they respond — has a profound impact on their healing,” Erickson said. “That’s huge. Just communicating and saying, ‘I believe you,’ because unfortunately, unlike any other crime, the victims feel so much shame.”
Mary Brickner can be reached at bric0029@stthomas.edu