faq

Students Active For Ending Rape (SAFER) is a national nonprofit organization devoted to training grassroots student activists to win improvements in the sexual assault policies at their colleges and universities. Colleges often fail to provide students with basic services to deal with epidemic levels of sexual violence on campus. Survivors of sexual assault are retraumatized with unresponsive and unfair policies that often recreate the oppressions that lead to sexual violence. SAFER seeks to provide student activists with the tools they need to challenge university complacence regarding sexual assault.

SAFER was founded not simply to combat the problem of sexual assault, but to help reorganize the fragmented progressive movement by training a new generation of grassroots organizers. While right-wing organizations have spent millions training and developing their young leaders, progressive organizers lack the skills to combat a growing wave of rightist social control. Young progressives are often overwhelmed by the number of social problems they face, and find themselves unable to commit to one winnable campaign to improve the conditions of their lives. SAFER believes that by focusing on one deeply felt issue and allowing young organizers to "practice" their skills within the political microcosms of their university communities, we can not only create a less racist, violent and misogynistic environment on college campuses, but also develop effective and experienced direct action organizers who will take their skills into the larger political sphere when they leave college.

A local rape crisis center can walk you through the process of getting help, seeing a doctor, or pursuing criminal charges. The Rape Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) has a national hotline that can connect you to the services nearest you (call 1-800-656-HOPE or go to www.rainn.org). SAFER does not provide counseling or legal services for survivors of sexual assault.

SAFER supports disciplinary procedures that take sexual assault seriously while providing a fair and impartial hearing for all parties. We believe that such procedures must include extensive oversight to prevent abuses, and that those conducting hearings require training in proper evidence evaluation. SAFER generally does not take a position on the specific content of policies at individual colleges.

SAFER only works with student organizers working to reform college sexual assault policies.

SAFER believes that students must determine for themselves what changes are needed in their communities. We think that it is much more empowering for students to decide for themselves what they need. We can provide guidance on specific questions, but you and your group will have to decide on your goals without our help. To find a copy of your school's sexual assault policy, try contacting your school's security office or dean of students.

SAFER sees all oppressions as an interrelated phenomenon. We believe that activists cannot challenge sexism or violence without also challenging racism, homophobia, and other versions of hate. Sexual violence is "about women," because women are most often victimized, and sexual assault is often the result of sexism, but men are victimized as well, and the term "woman" is too often used to describe only a small group of privileged individuals (white, straight, upper-income, non-transgendered women). We believe that sexual violence is ultimately the expression of many combinations of oppressions, and that each of those oppressions must be challenged to bring about an end to sexual assault.

SAFER provides training in grassroots organizing strategies for students working to improve their schools' sexual assault prevention and response policies. We focus on the skills students need to build effective grassroots movements to win concrete changes to these policies. There are many other excellent organizations such as Men Can Stop Rape (www.mencanstoprape.org), which provide educational programs addressing the cultural causes of sexual violence.

Donations to SAFER are tax-deductible. For more information about donations to SAFER, see the Donate Now section of our website.

See the Employment Opportunities section of our website for information about opportunities with SAFER.

SAFER currently offers a Teach-In, a Weekend Organizing Training, and Consulting Sessions. See our Resources for Students page for more info.

SAFER is not exclusive to college students. We work with many volunteers of all ages. Although our Board of Directors is generally composed of students and recent college graduates, others can get involved with SAFER by serving on our Board of Advisors, by volunteering, or by donating to SAFER. Parents can join in our efforts by pressuring administrators at their child's school. Community leaders and college faculty can also help by serving as contacts for students in their area. Survivors of sexual assault may contribute to SAFER's Stories Project.

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