Taking Action

Resources change and adapt over time. Invest time on a consistent basis to understand the prevention work and services offered at St. Olaf. You might:

• Review the Title IX website and policy on a regular basis. Read the Title IX FAQ. Get to know the Title IX Coordinator. Know the resources offered through Title IX, information about reporting and who the Title IX members are. Know the difference between confidential vs non-confidential resources. Review local resource options as well.
• Review the Sexual Assault Resource Network (SARN) and resources offered by student advocates on campus. Attend their open events and stay knowledgeable about the services they offer. 
• Engage in self-paced and live training opportunities to learn more about Title IX, SARN, and CSRI. Take time in meetings to learn about resources and understand how to navigate the resources at St. Olaf. Review the counseling resources through the Counseling Center and TimelyCare.

Chances are you already know at least one survivor of sexual violence, whether you are aware of it or not. The best thing you can do is simply believe someone when they tell you they have seen sexually assaulted. Your role is to listen and provide the support they ask for. Understanding their experiences may be impossible, but it’s important you take time to understand the long-term impacts of trauma. 

Resources:

• Visit this website for more helpful information on ways to support victims/survivors. 
• Report for faculty and staff in Supporting Survivors in the Classroom here. 
• A video recording on How to Support a Survivor.
  • Here is a video presentation recording of Supporting Male Survivors. 
  • Here is a video presentation recording on Supporting Black Survivors
  • Here is a video presentation recording on Supporting LGBTQ+ Survivors.
• For online training opportunities, check out the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault Online Training Library website.
• For more in-depth advocate training opportunities, check out the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, & Mental Health’s website.
• The St. Olaf community can also request a presentation on Supporting Survivors here. 
• Supporting Survivors list of podcasts.

Using consent gives everyone power over their own bodies and space. Everyday consent means we communicate our boundaries and ask others for their perspective before taking actions that impact them. We can practice and model everyday consent by: 

• Asking permission before posting a photo of someone else on presentations, social media, and before reposting or resharing something personal.
• Checking if it’s okay before sharing information outside of your one-on-one chat.
• Agreeing on a platform and giving options when communicating — for instance, giving the option to leave your webcam off during a video call.
• Making your availability for activities like video calls clear and conducting them within the agreed-upon time frame. 

Resources: 

• 5 Ways to Practice Consent in Everyday Life article.
• Poster series and website on digital consent and here is a website with further information about consent and sex. 
• Online trainings related to consent.
• Visit this website Consent Academy to learn how to practice consent in everyday life
• The C is for Consent board book for children helps our youngest generation learn about practicing consent in everyday interactions with family and friends
• Boundaries website with additional resources

We cannot prevent sexual violence alone, we need our communities on board. Make space to engage in conversation and discuss anti-racism with your family, friends, and coworkers. 

Resources:

• Teaching Tolerance guide for conversations
• Develop a deeper understanding of intersectionality
• Toolkit for Interrupting Oppression
• How white people can talk to each other about disrupting racism articles and resources
• Anti-Racism as Violence Prevention website

We are all going to make mistakes and potentially cause harm at some point in our lives. What matters is we own our actions, recognize when we are wrong or cause harm, genuinely apologize for the mistake, and change our actions moving forward. This also includes accepting uncomfortable feelings of rejection or being told “no”. Viewing your mistakes or instances of rejection as learning opportunities takes intentional effort. 

Resources:

• I’m Sorry: How to Apologize and Why It Matters with Dr. Harriet Lerner podcast
• Watch this video to learn how to sincerely and effectively apologize
• Here is an article on how to take ownership of your mistakes
• Ted Talk on overcoming rejection
• 10 Tips for Overcoming Your Fear of Rejection article

Acknowledging the harmful norms that create and excuse biases and harmful language is only the first step. Listening and being open to new perspectives must also be included in the unlearning process. Using inclusive language words helps create a sense of belonging and displays your commitment to action. Together these types of actions have meaning in your everyday feelings and interactions.

Resources:

• Unconscious Bias, Implicit Bias, and Microaggressions: What Can We Do About Them? article
• Why inclusive language is so important? video
• Inclusive Language guide and Words at Work guide

Implicit Biases Resources:

• Implicit Associations Test (IAT). Project Implicit was designed to provide the opportunity for individuals to assess conscious and unconscious preferences by measuring your reaction time in various tasks. Exercises have been created to measure possible hidden biases you may have regarding a range of issues and populations.
• UCLA Implicit Bias Video Series (30 minutes)
• Diversity and Inclusion: Walking the Talk self-paced webinar course (1-2 hours)
• Unconscious Bias: From Awareness to Action self-paced course (2-3 hours)
• Managing Implicit Bias Series self-paced course (1-2 hours)

Additional Learning Articles:

• How to Beat Stereotypes by Seeing People as Individuals
• Unconscious Bias, Implicit Bias, and Microaggressions: What Can We Do About Them?
• Here Is Why Organisations Need to be Conscious Of Unconscious Bias
• The Science of Equality, Vol. 1: Addressing Implicit Bias, Racial Anxiety, and Stereotype Threat in Education and Health Care (Perception Institute 2014)
• Diverse Teams Feel Less Comfortable — and That’s Why They Perform Better
• Two Powerful Ways Managers Can Curb Implicit Biases
• How to Avoid Picking Up Prejudice from the Media
• How Mindfulness Can Defeat Racial Bias
• The Bias of ‘Professionalism’ Standards
• White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack
• The Social Justice Sector Has An Internal Racism Problem
• How the Best Bosses Interrupt Bias on Their Teams
• Microaggressions: What You Need to Know

Another way you can prevent sexual violence, and other forms of violence is by being an active bystander. Speak up to a friend, colleague, or another person in your life who behaves in sexist, racist, transphobic, homophobic, or other biased manners. Learn how to approach these situations to prevent future harm. 

Resources:

• Bystander intervention website
• A Guide to Responding to Microaggressions by Kevin L. Nadal
• Be A Better Bystander podcast and How to be an active bystander podcast

Media is one of the most effective tools in communicating and reflecting social norms. Many T.V. shows, music videos, movies, and books promote ideas and behaviors that sustain and normalize sexual violence and objectification. Choose media that aligns with your values, adds perspective, and doesn’t use traumatic experiences as a punchline. 

Sexual Violence Prevention Media Resource List

Use your voice and your vote to ensure sexual harassment, assault, and abuse prevention is well-funded. Your voice and vote has power, use it! There are laws and polices around sexual violence, especially harassment, at the federal level, state level, and at your local businesses and schools level. Politicians even take stances on sexual violence. Use your voice and vote to show you find these policies important. MNCASA is here to help you begin your policy involvement with our Back to Basics: Policy 101 resource. 

Check out the Meeting with Your Legislators for Beginners to get you started. Remember you also have local community officials who want to hear from you. Other opportunities are to revise policies at your workplace, within schools, and other local establishments. Find out what policies exist around sexual violence in these settings. You can influence change on multiple policy levels!