Three solutions worth exploring

Prevention programs are an interesting topic because their effectiveness has been explored by academia for many years. A literature review in 2011 of eight previous literature reviews encompassed hundreds of sexual assault educational/prevention programs at universities across the US. This review looked at the effectiveness based on five aspects of programs including: audience, facilitator, format, program content and another category for additional recommendations. In the analysis the researchers found that single gender audiences were more effective in discussion and professional facilitators were preferred to peers. Additionally, programs with a digital component were also preferred for reasons of cost and accessibility to the audience. Program content varied however issues surrounding sexual assault were important to incorporate like masculinity, sexuality, social norms, alcohol and campus culture. It is important to note that each program had individual requirements that measured “success” and not all were the same. However, the researchers took into account that outcomes were measured in differing ways when choosing studies to review. 

I took this literature review into account when creating an outline for three programs that I believe could possibly enhance education, prevention and awareness programs regarding sexual assault by focusing on survivor support.

Resident Assistant Training

Additional training for RAs is an idea that came midway through my interview process, as I noticed that RAs needed and wanted more skills to support residents that are survivors of sexual assault. While RAs are ideally for listening to students and connecting them with the correct resources, I think that having in hall support staff is a needed addition to Miami’s residence halls. Training on reporting is important for Residential staff, however I believe that supporting survivors is even more important. The lecture style training conveys the information effectively, however for support training I believe that it should happen within each hall with only that hall’s staff. It could be facilitated by an RA who received training earlier in the summer or semester so that the other RAs have someone who they feel comfortable with to ask questions. The training should be interactive and RAs should write down goals and plan programming to educate residents.

Orientation Program

The current curriculum surrounding sexual assault and interpersonal violence offered to incoming students during orientation includes a seminar style presentation by a campus representative, a showing of the “Tea Video”, a youtube clip that uses tea as a metaphor to discuss consent and a debrief session in a small group with the student’s orientation leader. While the information is said and the job gets done, I believe that the information provided is missing a support component. Since orientation is such a short period of time and many of the sessions have to be combined in order to fit everything into the two days I do not think that information should be added, but rather substituted. In the small group setting the orientation leaders, who have received training, should have an interactive debrief in which students can write down on notecards how they can support others and themselves now and in the future. The students can keep these cards and by opening the dialogue and setting the tone early, students at Miami can lessen the stigma of being a survivor of sexual assault. 

In hall Program for Residents

At the start of this project my idea was to create an in hall program and after interviewing staff in the Office of Residence Life and talking to students I realized that there are other ways that resources can be utilized through RA training and Orientation. However, I still believe that creating an outline for a program that RAs can use and change to fit the needs of their residents is a useful tool. In conjunction with RA staff during training I think that programming can be developed and shared to advertise and bring awareness to support for survivors living on campus.