Staff Writer- Evangelyn Hill
The month of April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Gustavus is hosting events to raise awareness about the issue. One way the college is supporting SA awareness is through Teal Tuesdays.
Every Tuesday in April, the Peer Assistants will be tabling from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. “to educate, support, and engage students in conversations about prevention,” PA Kendra Stanton said.
Besides tabling, the PAs will be hosting events on April 21st and April 28th. “These events help raise awareness about sexual assault, promote healthy relationships, and connect students with important resources,” Stanton explained.
Amy Pehrson, Assistant Dean of Students and Title IX Coordinator, encourages students to attend these events. “There are chances to win fabulous prizes, but it’s also just really good information. There is also all month in the library, a display that shows some interesting books about sexual assault… There is also info at each of the cash registers at the Caf, so feel free to pick up a sticker or a pin,” Pehrson said.
Events like these are exceptionally important on college campuses, where rates of sexual assault are high. RAINN, the nation’s biggest anti-sexual violence organization, says that 13% of all college students experience sexual assault. The percentage jumps to 26.4% for women and 21% for those with socially nonconforming identities.
Many of these sexual crimes go unreported and unprosecuted. RAINN reports that four out of five college students do not report sexual violence to law inforcement. They cite a number of reasons, including believing it’s a personal matter and fearing retaliation.
Being sexually assaulted impacts anyone’s mental health, but has a particularly large impact on college students, explained Pehrson.
“It gets even more problematic for college students because you’re living on campus, and so the geographic environment is smaller, and so perhaps that might mean you see the perpetrator on campus, in the cafeteria or your classroom,” Pehrson said.
The stress of a sexual assault can put more strain on already stressed college students, as well.
“I also am concerned that college students are already stretched in terms of sleep, healthy eating, exercise, and time management, and going through a sexual assault and/or the process that comes with it, makes that more difficult and challenging,” Pehrson said.
When going through sexual assault, students often need support from a friend. Stanton elaborated on what students can do if a friend tells them they have been harassed.
“It’s important to listen without judgment and I think one of the best things you can do is tell them you believe them. Let them share only what they’re comfortable with and avoid pressuring them to take any specific action… Most importantly, it is good to be there for them and remind them they are not alone and that they are loved,” Stanton said.
Students can also point their friends towards Gustavus campus resources. Pehrson explained how to access some of these resources.
“On the Gustavus website, if you scroll all the way to the bottom of the first webpage, you’ll see a button that says Title IX. And if you click on that button, you’ll find a place where you can report,” Pehrson said.
Students can report concerns about others or incidents of sexual assault that they themselves have experienced.
The process of reporting is completely confidential; information is sent only to Pehrson, the Title IX Coordinator. “When someone reports… I’ll reach out to the person that there is a concern about and ask if there is anything they need,” Pehrson said.
She encourages students to report concerns about their friends, even if they aren’t sure if it is anything significant. “It’s better to report and get the person involved some help. It’s always the decision of the person involved to decide what they want to do,” Pehrson said.