Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

["Ross A Wantland" <>]

Hello everyone,

 

So a few months ago, I asked college students, anti-rape professionals,
and colleagues their thoughts on using podcasts and other magical,
mysterious technological advances (blogs, YouTube, etc.) for providing
information to students about sexual violence prevention & crisis
intervention. I received a ton of responses, and I'm only just sifting
through them. Thanks to everyone who helped me think through this. 

 

In no particular order, I've summarized the information I received, as
well as the reactions I received. The reactions I highlight as most
important (in terms of utilization) are college students who weighed
in...and these are college students who are more concerned than average
about these issues (e.g., peer educators).  If you have any questions
about this info here, feel free to contact me at my phone number below
or e-mail me. 

Peace,

Ross

 

1) Insights

2) Examples

3) What is UIUC doing?

4) What the students said - exactly

**********************************************************************

 

1) Insights

1)       Podcasts are for entertainment & fun

Pretty consistently, users of podcasts suggested that they would not
intentionally go to a podcast simply as a resource. Podcasts - for them
- need to be entertaining, like a live concert or a "radio" program with
interesting interviews. Some students did feel that informational
podcasts might work, but that they should be maintained within a general
"self-help" section. 

 

2)       Podcasts, MySpace, & other technology is relatively easy to
create

According to many people, Podcasts are very simple to record on a small
budget. Other technology like blogs or MySpace only requires a computer
and some savvy. 

 

3)       Technology is work

And this is something that I've noticed - whether it is a blog or a
podcast series, this takes a lot of consistent work. Updating your blog,
being witty and fun...it's just a lot of work! You need to have some
time & energy set aside to devote to this writing or recording. Just
wade through some of the awesome feminist blogs out there
(feministing.com is particularly good). 

 

2) Examples

 

1)       Planned Parenthood of Western Washington

This was given to me as an example of a podcast directed towards
adolescents. It's all topics that relate to sex & sexuality, but it
seems to work for them:
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/westernwashington/speaking-of-sex-podca
st.htm 

 

2)       Mike Domitriz - The Date Safe Project

Says Mike, "Podcasts are a great outlet.  We have students who subscribe
to our podcast at www.datesafeshow.como which are more designated for
professionals.  The fact students subscribe (even though they are not
the targeted audience) lets me know they appreciate the medium." See it
at http://www.thedatesafeproject.org/podcast.htm ;

 

3)       Men Can Stop Rape

MCSR has been using a blog for a while, too. Check it out at
www.mencanstoprape.blogspot.com
<http://www.mencanstoprape.blogspot.com/>  

 

4)       Know the Red Flags MySpace page

This is part of a youth awareness campaign around dating violence out of
TX that says it's purpose is "Helping the 75 percent of Texans ages
16-24 who say they've experienced dating violence or know someone who
has." It seems to be one example of how a MySpace page may be set up.
(www.myspace.com/knowtheredflags) 

 

Many people (esp. statewide coalitions like Calcasa) wrote and said they
are looking at using some of this technology...

 

3) What is UIUC doing?

Nothing really. This was a fleeting question for me at the time, and I
don't think we currently have the people power (or maybe I'm too lazy)
to set this up yet. But from what the students said, the one thing that
sticks with me is that this must be entertaining and engaging. I really
like the idea of having a consistent-journalesque blog with some
podcasting to go with it. But we'll just have to see what happens. If we
do set something up, you'll be the first to know. 

 

4) What the students said - exactly:

It sounds like this would be interesting. I guess it could be a nice
supplement to discussions or for people that don't feel comfortable
talking about the subject. It would definetely make this information
more available to my age group.

 

My feeling on this is that technology such as podcasts would be more
beneficial for things like slam poetry, colloquium recordings, lectures,
and other things like that.  I usually see those as entertaining rather
than just educational, and I'm not sure that people would download
something about "making a safety plan" to listen to on an ipod.  I could
be wrong though, and it would be interesting to see if anyone else has
done this.

 

I'm not sure students would put a "healing from sexual violence" bite on
their iPod because it seems like those little things are usually
reserved for music. I do, however, like the idea of integrating
technology because students, including myself, are so into it. Maybe
just more accessible websites where students can access that kind of
information? I hope that helps and doesn't dampen anyone's ideas!

 

I dont know I have mixed feelings about it. A podcast, is that a video
or a voice only, because I do record my classes for the sake of hearing
them again. Is there away that you have an access code to the podcast,
so that when you go to class you can get the code that way not making it
an easy out for students who are lazy. 

 

This seems inappropriate with this issue since I think it's important
for people not to feel isolated after surviving such a horrific event in
their life. This might just further that isolation. I doubt students
would use that either. It's better to talk to a human and not listen to
a computer after being assaulted, that is my take on it.

 

About the podcasts: I've been thinking about doing making my own
podcasts for awhile now, and I think it would be a good idea for us to
do it. Here's why: they're absolutely cheap to maintain, they take
minimal effort, and they truly are one of those things in which if one
person downloaded them and gained from it, it will have done it's job.
Since all it takes is making it and then posting it up there, if people
are interested in working on them, why not just do it anyways?

 

In my comm/ technology studies i've found that almost no one listens to
podcasts...  BUT if you were to start a blog, and occassionally link to
podcasts once you already have a base of readers they'd be FAR more
sucessful in my opinion. Other ideas: -Putting videos on YouTube seems
to be the it thing.  It can be as simple as someone talking to a camera
and people will watch it.

 

I would maybe have a "self-help" section where one could choose whatever
self-care podcast that they wanted.

_____________________________________

Ross A. Wantland

Coordinator of Sexual Assault Education

300 Student Services Bldg. (MC-306)

610 E. John St.

Champaign, IL 61820

217-333-3137