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

["Berteau, Lorree K" <>]

Hi Abdul and all,

 

I’m sorry you’re facing those challenges, that is very discouraging to hear that they are censoring survivors.

 

We just recently did TBTN on our campus, and it went really well! We had 17 survivors’ stories read (some by volunteer readers for those who did not want to read their own story), and we did not censor them except for removing any identifying information. Some were detailed, some were not. Some had curse words and others were explicit in their detail, but we left that up to survivors.

 

We set up a ‘quiet room’ staffed with counselors for people to go to if they were triggered at the event, and counselors and the other Advocate and I were at the event, and spoke about our services and that we were there if anyone needed to talk during or after the event. I think you posing the quiet room with counselors would be a great suggestion for those who are giving you push back on the matter. We had students access the room and counseling during the event, but said the even really helped them not feel alone.

 

I hope things work out and your school provides a platform for survivors to heal.

 

Best,

 

 

Katy Berteau, MA

Victim-Survivor Advocate

Pronouns: She, Her, Hers

 

Health Promotion

Georgia Institute of Technology

Joseph B. Whitehead Building

740 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322

Health Promotion Suite, Room 232A

(404) 385-4451

http://healthpromotion.gatech.edu/

 

VOICE​ is Georgia Tech's Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Initiative.

 

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From: Irvine, Mahri [mailto:]
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2016 10:51 AM
To: Staten, Abdul <>;
Subject: RE: Take Back the Night

 

Hi Abdul and all,

 

In my opinion, the entire point of TBTN is to provide a safe, empowering space for survivors to share their stories. I can’t understand why someone would remove that essential, core element of TBTN. What’s the point of TBTN if survivors cannot tell their stories, in as much or as little detail as they want?

 

A well-organized TBTN should have crisis counselors present to help anyone – audience members or speakers – who feel triggered or need to talk. That should alleviate your colleague’s concern about a triggered audience member.

 

Sincerely,

Mahri

 

Mahri Irvine, PhD

IU Statewide Sexual Assault Education and Prevention Specialist

Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis

Walker Plaza 220

719 Indiana Avenue

Indianapolis, IN 46202

317-274-2501 (office)

317-278-0948 (fax)

 

Check out our upcoming conference and webinars!

 

From: Staten, Abdul []
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2016 10:04 AM
To:
Subject: Take Back the Night

 

Hi colleagues –

 

I’m looking to get some advice, and gather some evidence, regarding Take Back the Night. One of our counselors is urging the point that survivor testimonies should not be included in the event (or at least, testimonies should not go into detail about assault/abuse), because it could trigger those in the audience.

 

In fighting for survivors to share their experiences, and thus heal, I am unmoved by the request to withdraw survivor testimonies. Still, I wanted to get an idea of whether other institutions are facing a similar challenge.

 

Does your institution implement “Take Back the Night”? If so, do you include survivor testimonies? Or, are limitations placed on the kind of testimonies, so as to reduce triggering?

 

Thanks in advance, everyone. It’s difficult enough to fight against sexual violence, without also having to go against colleagues, too!

 

Abdul

 

Abdul Staten, MA

Training & Program Coordinator,

Women & Gender Resource Action Center (WGRAC)

Trinity College

300 Summit Street

2nd floor, Mather Hall

Hartford, CT  06106

Office: 860.297.4131

Email:

Click here to learn more about WGRAC! (Trinity’s Women & Gender Resources Action Center)