Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

sapc - RE: Examples of programming that can do harm/should be avoided?

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

List archive

RE: Examples of programming that can do harm/should be avoided?


Chronological Thread 
  • From: "Storm, Rachel Lauren" <>
  • To: Amy Kiger <>, "" <>, "" <>, "" <>
  • Cc: Brianna Nesbitt <>
  • Subject: RE: Examples of programming that can do harm/should be avoided?
  • Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2015 18:54:58 +0000
  • Accept-language: en-US

Greetings,

Our students have organized a screening of “The Party,” the new virtual reality film on campus sexual assault. Our center expressed concerns about the screening early on and wound up offering support for any students who may be triggered when students decided to go forward anyway. Like most experiential learning simulations (Tunnel of Oppression comes to mind, that "Poverty Simulation" "Disability Simulation," etc.) they are designed for non-survivors or those who haven't experienced firsthand the oppression/violence being depicted on the promise that "walking in someone's shoes" can open eyes. One critique of disability simulations is that research has shown there isn't statistically significant attitude changes and that they can even risk being counterproductive as they individualize/medicalize disability and fail to understand violence/oppression as part of a social ill (ableism). I could see this VR film facilitating the same learning outcome where we're analyzing the actions of these two people leading up to the assault, but not necessarily sexism, misogyny, rape culture, or power/multiple oppressions. These are just a couple of the concerns we raised.  

I personally take issue with any SA program that doesn’t position SA within a broader context of systems of power and oppression.  

Rachel

___________________________________________________________

Rachel Lauren Storm, M.Ed., Assistant Director
Women’s Resources Center | Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations
703 South Wright St. MC-302, 2nd floor, Champaign, Illinois 61820
t.  217.333.3137 |  e.   | w. www.go.illinois.edu/wrc
Give to the Women's Resources Center!: http://bit.ly/i3fQK8

Email is not a confidential form of communication. If you need assistance related to sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence or stalking, please call the Women’s Resources Center at 217-333-3137 M-Fri 9am-5pm to make an appointment. If you need support outside of these hours please call the RACES Hotline (24/7 for sexual assault issues) at (217)384-4444or the Emergency Dean at (217) 333-0050.

 

Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), any written communication to or from University employees regarding University business is a public record and may be subject to public disclosure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

From: Amy Kiger [mailto:]
Sent: Friday, October 30, 2015 4:13 PM
To: ; ;
Cc: Brianna Nesbitt
Subject: Examples of programming that can do harm/should be avoided?

 

Hello, 

 

An intern in my office is putting together a violence prevention 101 powerpoint session for us to use in training with student groups. She is looking for specific, concrete examples of "bad" programming, or programming that can do harm, or programming that could easily go wrong that she can share in the presentation to help students think critically about what's concerning about the example program and how it might be improved. She's already included info about the 9 principles of prevention, trauma informed, etc.--so we're really just looking for examples of things NOT to do.

 

The example I gave her is one I frequently get requested from undergraduate resident assistants:  "Let's have a social event, not advertise the event as sexual assault prevention education, and then while people are dancing and eating/drinking, drop skittles in their drinks to show them how easy it is to be roofied."  I've already searched these listservs and couldn't find any list of examples like this, so I appreciate any examples you can provide!

 

Thanks, 

Amy

 

--

Amy Kiger

Director, Office of Violence and Substance Abuse Prevention

University of Central Missouri

Administration Building 102

Warrensburg, MO 64093

660-543-8338

 

"I am here, and so are you. And we matter. We can change things." --Ella Baker
 What's Your Green Dot? 

 

 




Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.16.

Top of Page