Monthly Archives: November 2009

Center For Public Integrity Webinar Launches Investigative Report on Campus Sexual Assault

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Exciting news! Tomorrow, the Center for Public Integrity will begin releasing findings from their nine-month investigation into sexual assault on college campuses. We will absolutely be posting links to their work as it becomes available, but for now I want to let ya’ll know about the webinar CPI will hold tomorrow to launch their report and discuss results. (Please note that as this is a press call, questions will primarily be taken from press.) Info follows from CPI’s press release:

CPI Investigation Uncovers Culture of Secrecy Surrounding Sexual Assault on College Campuses Around the Country

Litany of Barriers Leaves Students Feeling Victimized a Second Time

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 23, 2009 — On Tuesday, December 1, the Center for Public Integrity will host a press call and webinar to release a report on the culture of secrecy surrounding sexual assault on college campuses across the country. Speakers will detail the results of a nine-month investigation that uncovered a host of institutional problems surrounding sexual assault and how it is handled by school administrations.

Nearly half the students interviewed by the Center reported they unsuccessfully sought criminal charges — leaving them to deal with a campus judiciary system shrouded in secrecy. Those students who do come forward can encounter mysterious disciplinary proceedings, closed-mouth school administrations, and off-the-record negotiations. At times, official school policies lead to dropped complaints and, in some cases, gag orders later found to be illegal.

WHAT: CPI Hosts a Press Call and Webinar to Release an Eye Opening Report on Campus Sexual Assault

WHO: Bill Buzenberg, Executive Director of the Center for Public Integrity

Kristen Lombardi, the Center for Public Integrity

Mallory Shear-Heyman, survivor

WHEN: Tuesday, December 1 at 1:00 PM EST

HOW: Call Number: 800-894-5910, Conference ID: 7CAMPUS

Webinar: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/connexevent/join

Meeting ID: 7CAMPUS, Entry Code: ATTEND

The Center interviewed 48 experts familiar with the college disciplinary process—student affairs administrators, conduct hearing officers, assault services directors, and victim advocates— as well as 33 female students who reported being raped by other college students. The Center has also surveyed 152 crisis-services programs and clinics on or near college campuses over the past academic year. The inquiry included a review of records in select cases, and examinations of 10 years worth of complaints filed against institutions with the Education Department under Title IX and the Clery Act—two laws requiring schools to respond to assault claims and to offer key rights to alleged victims.

Sunday News Linkage

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Fiat Lux at Stanford discusses the potential upward trend in sexual assault reporting, and discusses how this development can benefit the campus.

Three lacrosse players from Sacred Heart University decided it would be funny to hold down a fellow student and pretend they were going to rape her. Now they’re being charged with conspiracy to commit sexual assault. Nathan Havey at the Huffington Post dissects the AP’s reporting, discussing its rape myths, (such as “boys will be boys”). It also notes that the woman’s side has been omitted, despite her version of events being reported in other news outlets.

Laura discusses victim blaming through the eyes of law students, and brings up a particular point:

Professor Seidman had an interesting thought about attitudes toward rape. We find rape shameful, she said, because it involves sex (though, she added, “I would argue that rape has nothing to do with sex”). We’re ashamed of the way we think about rape. I take this to mean two things. First, we’re ashamed that we, in the 21st century, are embarrassed to talk about sex. Second, we’ve all taken in pieces of rape mythology and we’re ashamed to admit it. Maybe she shouldn’t have had that last drink. Maybe her dress was too tight. What was she doing going up to his hotel room? Why did she lead him on and then expect him to stop? What was she doing walking alone at night? Why was she acting sophisticated beyond her years?

How good of you, President Sarkozy! Thank you ever so much for helping to release Roman Polanski from prison. It’s nice to know that you’re using your position to help rapists escape punishment.

Ad Week takes a look at some ads that were meant to show support for women– but had the opposite effect. Among them is the now infamous Method commercial, in which scrubbing bubbles leer at a woman and say very inappropriate things to her while she showers.

Another is just ridiculous, and makes you wonder how people are paid to actually come up with this stuff:

First, a Danish group called Children Exposed to Violence at Home introduced a Web site called “Hit the Bitch!” Bizarrely, it was intended to be pro-woman and anti-violence, but visitors might have thought the opposite. Set up as a kind of advergame, the site encourages you to slap and punch a woman on the screen over and over. Eventually the woman collapses, and you get called a “100% idiot” for hitting her — a rebuke that seems more than a little weak.

Justice for Survivors of Sexual Assault Act of 2009

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Last week, my congresswoman US Rep Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and US Rep Dean Heller (R-NV) along with over 20 House colleagues introduced H.R. 4114, the “Justice for Survivors of Sexual Assault Act of 2009.”

The legislation would help reduce the national backlog of over 180,000 untested rape kits currently on police shelves by creating incentives for jurisdictions to eliminate their rape kit backlogs, process their incoming rape kits in a timely manner, and publicly report their backlog numbers. The bill will also address several other factors that work to deny justice to victims of sexual assault – including the denial of free rape kits to survivors of sexual assault and the shortage of trained health professionals capable of administering rape kit exams.

The Senate’s companion bill, S.2736, has been introduced by Senators Franken, Grassley, Hatch, and Feinstein.

Check out Rep. Maloney’s Press release

This piece of legislation is much needed. We need your help.

Call your Representative to support HR 4114

Call your Senator to support S.2736

SpeakOuts, Green Dots, and Other College News

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Don’t expect much on the blog over the next few days…I think most of us will be busy with Thanksgiving. In the meantime you can spend some time browsing our new site!

But before I go, some college happenings:

Remember the Green Dot Initiative? Well The College of New Jersey is giving it a try. This will be the school’s first bystander training.

At a Princeton University SpeakOut, sexual assault survivors expressed anger and disappointment over the response they received from fellow students and the university. Students were also upset by incidents of public masturbation bring treated like a joke. I can tell you from personal experience, it’s not a joke.

Finally, hats off to Valena Beety! Valena used to be on SAFER’s Board, and recently she was dispensing some important information at Slippery Rock University.

Rape prevention evaluation challenges

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Thanks to Jenna for bringing up Jezebel’s post on the recent Chronicle of Higher Ed article about rape prevention programs on college campuses. Please do check out Jezebel’s post for a great analysis of the article, pointing out a lot of concerns with assumptions about rape prevention programs. Personally, I think we need an approach that covers multiple angles, and the bystander programs are really promising. The catch with the bystander approach is that it also needs to include education about the dynamics of rape and its underlying issues (sexism, racism, etc).

I think what this Chronicle report really brings home for me is the need to evaluate. Otherwise we’re all just guessing at what works and what doesn’t work. Clearly, there are many inherent challenges in evaluating rape prevention programs. We don’t have accurate reporting statistics, so how can we really know if prevention programs are preventing rapes? We can measure social norms and beliefs, but we don’t know if changing those leads to behavior change. There are many scales out there to measure beliefs (see the State of Arizona’s Sexual Violence Prevention and Education Program’s evaluation page, and there are studies that try to measure behaviors. But the problem brought up by these studies is that in most cases, attitude changes are not sustained over time, and therefore are not likely to affect future behavior.

This article on VAWnet that reviews the existing literature points out that virtually all evaluation (and prevention programs for that matter) are conducted with college students. Many practitioners believe we need to start earlier. They also point out another problem with the college student population is we don’t know if the results are generalizable to other populations.

The article provides some suggestions as to future evaluation directions that are promising – check it out here. There are emerging strategies that are promising, such as bystander education and social norms marketing. There clearly isn’t one solution that will fit all, all campuses and communities are different. That’s what it’s important to advocate for programs that will resonate with the population you’re working with. Additionally, SAFER’s approach, to work to build a movement on campuses to change policy, is useful to consider because policy operates at a macro level and the change, once it is made, is sustainable. We’re also launching an Assessment and Evaluation committee to explore ways to better evaluate our own programs and their impact. Evaluation can be discouraging, but you have to start somewhere!

Sunday News Linkage

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I can’t really bring myself to look at a computer screen for too long due to an infection in both my eyes (yes, go me!). So short entry today.

In international news, a disturbing story from China. A court charged two police officers with the “temporary rape” of a high school grad.

The two policemen took two high school graduates, who had just completed their college entrance exams, out to eat and drink on June 19. They all drank a lot, and one of the students, Ms. Chen became heavily drunk, as told in a China News Service article of Oct. 29. The policemen took her to a hotel under the pretext of “helping her to come to,” but then raped her while she was passed out.

According to the court, the officers “committed a temporary and on-the-spot crime, without premeditation.”

It’s truly comforting to know that as long as a rape occurs on a whim, less harm is inflicted. What is so difficult to understand– the damage done to the survivor is the same whether or not the crime was pre-meditated or impulsive. What makes this even more disturbing are comments left on the NY Times “Schott’s Vocab Blog” that suggest that this type of categorization of assault is permissible.

The court has decided to take a second look at this case, because of public outrage. No surprise there.

***

Jezebel writes about new tactics being used in college rape prevention programs. A new trend is switching the focus from women to men in an attempt to change prevailing attitudes and perceptions about rape. But does it actually work?

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Lastly, Twilight: A Feminist Nightmare and Vampire Love, two editorials that take a look at Twilight, and deem the depiction of male-female relationships to be troubling and predatory. To be fair, I’ve stayed as as far from the books and movies as much as possible, and can’t form an opinion on this. But the writers make some compelling points, such as:

What is disheartening about Meyer’s book is her reinstatement of this old promise: assume your status as prey, as object, and you will gain your freedom as subject, as the center of action and meaning. Seek your existence in the eyes of a sovereign masculine subject, and you will find it.

IT’S ALIVE! SAFER’s New Website and Activist Resource Center are Ready to Go!

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This week we at SAFER feel a little bit like we’ve just given birth—our new website is finally live! Please check it out. We’re really excited about it, and hope ya’ll like it too. Thanks to the folks at Quilted for making it happen.

Some notable changes about the new site: the homepage links you directly to our three main services, our trainings, our Campus Sexual Assault Policies Database, and our new Activist Resource Center (ARC).

Both the database and the ARC require visitors to register and login, but while the database is open to everyone, the ARC is only for folks who register as students. The ARC holds all of the organizing tools, strategies, and tips that SAFER has for all you students working to change how your campus deals with sexual assault. We have materials on how to be an effective organizer, how to analyze the power structure on your campus, case studies, suggestions for projects, and much more. This is just the beginning—we have big plans for this resource center, and will definitely be adding to it in the future. Definitely let us know if there’s something specific you would like to see included. We also want it to eventually turn into a place to highlight the work that students are doing, so if you have a succesful peer education curriculum, poster, zine, research paper, or any other piece of your work on campus sexual assault, send it our way!

If you check out the database you’ll notice a new option to “submit a school.” That’s part of a whole other project we’ll be announcing soon. We have been VERY busy this fall…

Finally, SAFER recently took on a bunch of awesome new Board members, so if you want to see who we all are, look here. As I’ve said before, we are all volunteers here, and have a very very small budget. If you like the new site, consider sending us a few dollars to help us pay for it!

SEX. CONSENT. POWER. PLEASURE.

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Dear readers –

We want to let you know about an event that we’re co-hosting on December 1st – hope to see you there! Students get in free!

–
PARADIGM SHIFT: NYC’S FEMINIST COMMUNITY & SAFER Proudly Present

SEX. CONSENT. POWER. PLEASURE.
Film, Conversation, & Community

THE LINE, documentary screening
see trailer http://thelinemovie.org
&
Panel discussion featuring:

NANCY SCHWARTZMAN, Filmmaker
ERIN BURROWS, Students Active For Ending Rape
JOSEPH SAMALIN, Men Can Stop Rape, Campus Strength Coordinator
IGNACIO RIVERA, Sex educator, Organizer & Performance Artist

When: TUES, DEC. 1st
Time: 7:00 pm
Where: Gallery Bar
120 Orchard Street, between Delancey St. and Rivington St.
Subway: Delancey-Essex Sts (F, J, M, Z), Grand St (B, D), 2nd Ave-Houston St (F, V)

Cost: $7 if you RSVP before Dec. 1st, 12:00 noon / Students FREE / $10 at door
RSVP (include full name and guests): rsvp@paradigmshiftnyc.com

THE LINE Synopsis:

http://thelinemovie.org

A one night stand far from home goes terribly wrong. As the filmmaker unravels her experience, she decides to confront her attacker. Told through a “sex-positive” lens, THE LINE is a 24 minute documentary about a young woman – the filmmaker- who is raped, but her story isn’t cut and dry. Not a “perfect victim,” the filmmaker confronts her attacker, recording the conversation with a hidden camera. Sex workers, survivors and activists discuss justice, accountability and today’s “rape culture.” The film asks the question: where is the line defining consent? THE LINE was completed in July 2009.

ABOUT NANCY SCHWARTZMAN:
Nancy Schwartzman is a filmmaker, writer and activist working for over thirteen years to create community solutions to combat sexual violence and promote public debate. THE LINE is a personal documentary that explores consent from a sex-positive point of view. With an emphasis on interactivity and dialogue, she launched the accompanying “where is your line?” campaign. Prior to THE LINE, she produced the award-winning short film OCEAN AVENUE.

Nancy is the founder of NYC-Safestreets.org an online initiative noted by The New York Times, Gawker, The Village Voice and The Daily News to engage community organizations and businesses to create safer routes for pedestrians, especially women. From 2002- 2005 she was a founding editor and Creative Director of HEEB Magazine. For six years Nancy was the Program Officer at the Fund for Jewish Documentary Film. She has curated short film festivals at the Pioneer Theater, Berlin, London and Tel Aviv. Her essays have been featured in The Independent, HEEB, Sh’ma and Plenty Magazine.

Nancy lectures extensively on college campuses on the topic of consent and healthy sexual boundaries. She is a graduate of Columbia University with a degree in Art History and Film. She has lived in Paris and Jerusalem, and currently resides in Brooklyn. She recently married Isaac Mathes, her cameraman.

ABOUT ERIN BURROWS:
Erin Burrows, M.A., completed her Fifth Year MA in Women’s History at Sarah Lawrence in 2009. She was a leader in the successful campaign at Sarah Lawrence College to rewrite the Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Policy and improve sexual assault services on campus. Erin was heavily involved with feminist and queer organizing on campus, leading to numerous changes in programming and policy including mandatory anti-oppression training for student senators. Erin was awarded the Senior Appreciation Award for recognition of her undergraduate leadership in 2008. She has been working for SAFER since August, 2008 and joined the board in May, 2009. She currently works as a Community Educator in the Domestic Violence Education and Prevention Program at My Sisters’ Place, based in Yonkers, NY.

ABOUT JOSEPH SAMALIN:

http://www.mencanstoprape.org

Prior to joining Men Can Stop Rape as Campus Strength Coordinator, Joseph was co-president of Columbia University’s men’s group, Columbia Men Against Violence. He has been working on rape prevention and anti-violence work with young men in New York and other areas for 15 years.

ABOUT IGNACIO RIVERA:

http://www.ignaciorivera.com

Ignacio Rivera is a Queer, gender fluid, Trans- Entity, Black Boricua performance artist, currently performing skits, spoken word, one-person shows and story-telling internationally. Ignacio is a lecturer/trainer, activist, new filmmaker and self-proclaimed sex educator. As a lecturer/ trainer, Ignacio has spoken at home and abroad on such topics of racism, sexism, homo/transphobia, transgender issues, sexual liberation, anti-oppression, anti-violence, multi-issue organizing and more. Ignacio currently consultants with various organizations in New York City conducting professional development trainings for NYC high school staff.

ABOUT PARADIGM SHIFT: NYC’S FEMINIST COMMUNITY:

http://www.paradigmshiftnyc.com

Use the “F” word.
Discuss. Evolve. Grow with Us.
Change NYC. Change the World.

Paradigm Shift, a 501c4 non-profit organization, is New York City’s largest feminist community group and event series (TimeOut New York rated “Critics’ Pick”), and most recently launched a community blog & the pioneering feminist online video channel, Paradigm Shift TV. Paradigm Shift hosts monthly events: lectures/discussion groups featuring feminist thought leaders, filmmakers, and activists; workshops; screenings; as well as open mics and performances featuring local and internationally renown talent.

ABOUT SAFER:

https://safercampus.org

Started by Columbia University students in 2000, Students Active for Ending Rape (SAFER) is the only organization that fights sexual violence and rape culture by empowering student-led campaigns to reform college sexual assault policies. An all-volunteer collective, SAFER facilitates student organizing through a comprehensive training manual; in-person workshops and trainings; free follow-up mentoring; our Campus Sexual Assault Policies Database; and a growing online resource library and network for student organizers. SAFER firmly believes that sexual violence is both influenced by and contributes to multiple forms of oppression, including racism, sexism, and homo/transphobia, and view our anti-sexual violence work through a broader anti-oppression lens.

PARTNERS:
Identity House

http://www.identityhouse.org

NOW NYS Young Feminist Task Force

http://youngfeministtaskforce.blogspot.com

Amy Mitten Photography
amittensphoto@aol.com

This Is A Problem.

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More information keeps on coming out about the horrific gang rape at Richmond High. This time we’re hearing from the witnesses who saw the rape but didn’t call the police. These kids have received a lot of harsh words from those of us who have watched this play out from the comfort of our computers/televisions: what kind of monster sees something like that and doesn’t try to stop it, doesn’t call the cops? And really, I have no interest in justifying this kind of bystander behavior at all. But this does make you think about how complicated the situation is:

Rodriguez told KGO that he was the only person who tried to help the victim, who was lying naked alone by the time the attack ended.

“She was by herself, she was naked and I tried to help her and I reached for her and she started screaming and I said, ‘Hey, I don’t want to hurt you, I just want to help, that’s all I want to do is just help you,’” Rodriguez said. “So she stopped screaming. It’s as if she knew, you know, I wasn’t trying to do nothing and then I grabbed my T-shirt and covered her up with it.”

Fearful of being labeled a snitch — a reputation that Rodriguez said could put his life in danger — the teen said he was too scared to call for help.

“People say, ‘Why didn’t I call the cops,’ but at the same time, I live in Richmond. A neighborhood like this, snitching is something you don’t do, you know. I mean I have to walk down the streets now in fear of my life,” Rodriquez said

I’m not from there, I don’t know the realities of life there, so I can’t really weigh the truth of this young man’s statement. But this is an example of how sexual violence does not exist in a vaccuum—this terrible attack is the kind of thing that happens in a culture that doesn’t respect women or their bodies; that doesn’t see rape as such a big deal. And the fact that people let it happen…well that can come from the same place, but there are other iniquities and violences here, other threats, other concerns about safety. It’s hearing things like this that just solidify for me the necessity of viewing all social ills view a systemic lens. You can’t just fix one piece of the puzzle.

(h/t abyss2hope’s twitter)

………..

In less serious news, some of you remember the revolting piece of reality television called Tough Love. I may have written about it before. Well, lucky us, VH1 brought it back for a second season. Well I happened to see a piece of the first episode today, which included the following sequence:

A woman is explaining to “professional matchmaker” Steve Ward how she has a list of characteristics that men she dates must fulfill. At which point he cuts her off and says, “I don’t give a rat’s ass what you want, you’re going to take what I give you.” Keep it up, VH1.