Sexual Assault: Increasing Program Relevance and Efficacy on College Campuses

Maria Randazzo, LMHC, CASAC, CPPMichelle Scott, LCSWLe Moyne College

Title IX

•Under Title IX, an educational institution must take immediate action to end sexual harassment that the institution knows or reasonably should know is taking place, and must prevent its recurrence and address its effects.

•“Dear Colleague Letter” outlines requirements of colleges’ and universities’ responses to sexual misconduct incidents.

White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault

April 2014

•Outlines evidenced-based best practice and successful programs

•Recommends developing comprehensive prevention plans that include campus wide policy, structural and social norms components

•Evaluation•Sharing lessons learned

Effective Prevention Strategies •Comprehensive•Appropriately timed in development•“Sufficient dosage” (multiple sessions are

better•Administered by well-trained staff•Socio-culturally relevant•Based in a sound theory of change•Build on or support positive relationships•Utilize varied teaching methods• Include outcome evaluation

Local recognition….

•http://www.localsyr.com/story/d/story/le-moyne-says-no-more-to-sexual-assault/35723/mUUoUGNrLEOyNC4OSHMJFw

Relationships 1012 and ½ hour multifaceted approach to sexual assault education:•Presentation of a PSA created by students

and staff •Live theater program consisting of a series

of vignettes depicting key components of various aspects of sexual assault

• Panel presentation offering legal and judicial information to students

• Small group discussion facilitated by staff, faculty, administrators and Resident Advisors

Logistics: “Herding Cats”

•640 freshman divided into two groups of males and 2 groups of females (4 sessions)

•“Guided” by RA and OC staff into the Performing Arts Studio (PAC)

• Title IX print information (brochure, bracelet, pledge card)

PSA

•Nomore.org

•Can we do it here and what would that look like?

•Take away message particular to college students

•How do we represent our campus?? Who should be in it??

•https://vimeo.com/95354288

Live Theater Experience

•Student Co-directors introduce program goals/trigger warning/next speakers

•Title IX Coordinator and Jesuit

•Introduce vignettes

Vignettes

•Consent

•Legal Definition of Rape

•Role of Alcohol

•Bystander Intervention

“Herding Cats” Part II

• Bystander Intervention Video – (New Zealand, SUNY Cortland)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra4CyixntCw&feature=youtu.be

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?pli=1#label/Cabinet%2FVideos%2FPSA/14d0b3e4454826ca?projector=1

• Panel Presentation:

-College Policies-Judicial Officer

-Legal Policies-Security

-Counseling Protocol-Director

Confidential ResourcesConfidential resources are those individuals who, by law, are obligated to maintain confidentiality of the disclosure of sexual misconduct. These individuals are not required to re‐disclose information shared with them other than in very extreme and unusual circumstances involving evidence of a serious and imminent threat to the individual sharing their story or to an identifiable third party. Confidential Resources include: 

Counseling Center

Student Health Services

Clergy Members

“Herding Cats” Part III

•Small group discussions

•15-20 students/Staff and an RA

•Alcohol Education/Harm Reduction Interventions (BAC cards)

•Bystander Intervention

Recognition

•http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/08/28/3476843/schools-progress-sexual-assault/

Student Feedback-Survey Results

•320 or 50% of students reported that they attended the Relationships 101 and completed the feedback survey (of a total of 640 students)

•272 or 87% indicated that they found the program to be “valuable”

•297 or 96% stated the program helped to understand the definition of consent.

•286 or 96% shared that the program helped them understand how to intervene as a positive bystander.

Did you attend the Relationships 101

presentation ?

Yes No Total0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

N

N

Relationships 101 Survey Results

04080

120160

Strongly AgreeAgreeDisagreeStrongly DisagreeNot Sure

Effective Prevention Strategies •Comprehensive•Appropriately timed in development•“Sufficient dosage” (multiple sessions are

better•Administered by well-trained staff•Socio-culturally relevant•Based in a sound theory of change•Build on or support positive relationships•Utilize varied teaching methods• Include outcome evaluation

Next Steps…•Part I -Add stalking -add/delete appropriately -new social norming give away-ID holders for phones

Next Steps…•Part II - ”Tighten up” program /minimize

attrition -skip panel discussion in auditorium -video tape “talking heads”

•Part III -add ice breaker -show bystander video -discussion including alcohol harm reduction -”Talking heads” - final take away messages