Ending Abuse United States Project #52601

Prevent Campus Sexual Violence & Empower Survivors

by Sexual Violence Prevention Association

Prevent Campus Sexual Violence & Empower Survivors

Project Report | Sep 15, 2023
Campus Chapters Prevent Sexual Violence

By Esther Yankah Koranteng | Press & Communications Associate

Campus Tabling

The Sexual Violence Prevention Association (SVPA) recently launched our first cohort of Campus Chapter Fellows. The fellowship was granted to Vanessa Basso Fiuza of Columbia University and Mehreen Kamal of Boston University who are both remarkably gifted, passionate, and accomplished individuals.

SVPA Campus Chapters are student groups that are founded and run by student survivors. They prevent sexual violence on their campus through events, student organizing, administration accountability, and advocating for legislation. SVPA Chapters host trainings and events covering topics such as bystander intervention, the red zone, and Title IX. They also host speak-outs on social media and in person. Speakouts empower survivors to share their stories of experiencing sexual violence on campus. The SVPA Chapters also encourage campus administration to improve practices, policies, and resources for preventing sexual violence.

The 2023 Fellowship marks the first expansion of the SVPA’s Campus Chapter program which began with the University of Arkansas (UArk) chapter in January of 2023. The Campus Chapter program and the first chapter were founded by Reid Pinckard, a passionate activist and student survivor. Pinckard said, “Student and youth mobilization is crucial for systemic change. As these chapters grow, I hope to see spaces created where survivors can flourish, and rates of sexual violence on university campuses decrease.”

SVPA UArk has had several achievements since its inception in January of 2023. It was designated a Clinton Global Initiative. Pinckard represented the group at the Clinton Global Initiative University Annual Meeting and presented to fellow attendees. SVPA UArk received the Registered Student Organization Program of the Year Award from the University of Arkansas's Office of Student Outreach Organization and Involvement Experience (S.O.O.I.E). The chapter’s impact has been recognized in several news articles including the university newspaper, campus broadcast network, and local news stations.

The fellows serve as the main contact for SVPA initiatives and organizing on their university campuses. During the fellowship, they will be creating their campus chapter by organizing a coalition of student survivors. The chapters equip youth organizers across the country with the tools to further the SVPA’s mission by systematically preventing sexual violence on campuses through educational initiatives, student organizing, and legislative advocacy.

Following the successes of UArk SVPA, the new chapters, headed by Vanessa Basso Fiuza and Mehreen Kamal will expand our efforts, impacting over 80,000 students. The Campus Fellows are key changemakers in the Sexual Violence Prevention’s initiative to promote survivor-led sexual violence prevention on campuses across the US.

Your continued support of our campus advocacy empowers student survivors to prevent sexual violence across the country.

Thank you!

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May 22, 2023
Preventing Sexual Violence with 3toPreventSV

By Omny Miranda Martone | Founder and CEO

Members of the SVPA at a SAAM event

We are thrilled to announce the remarkable success of our campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). Throughout the month of April, we spearheaded 3toPreventSV, an impactful initiative, to prevent sexual violence through education, connection, and action. We are delighted to report that the campaign received an overwhelming response, garnering tremendous support from various sectors of society.

Colleges, companies, content creators, and individuals participated by pledging to undertake three concrete actions to prevent sexual violence. In other words, they plegded 3toPreventSV. These pledges ranged from watching educational videos on consent, attending presentations on campus prevention, and reading comprehensive guides on bystander intervention. We are proud to share that an astonishing 1,116 pledges were made, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to tackling this critical issue.

3toPreventSV garnered the enthusiastic participation of over 25 student groups from across the country. Their dedication and proactive involvement played a crucial role in spreading awareness and engaging their members with important lessons on sexual violence prevention.

To amplify our impact even further, we collaborated with prominent streamers on YouTube and Twitch who generously hosted charity streams throughout the month. Their efforts not only helped raise funds but also reached a vast audience, raising awareness about sexual violence prevention among their followers.

We are grateful for our valuable partnerships including two exceptional companies that participated in the 3toPreventSV campaign. During the first week of SAAM, GlobalGiving generously matched all the donations we received, amplifying our fundraising efforts significantly.

Additionally, we are excited to announce a new partnership with Pacifica Beauty. Pacifica Beauty donated $10,000 and a percentage of proceeds on the closing day of SAAM. Our partnership also includes a joint social media campaign for raising awareness about the impact of climate change on sexual violence. For more information, we encourage you to visit our social media platforms and search for#CCxSV.

Overall, the 3toPreventSV campaign for Sexual Assault Awareness Month was a resounding success. By educating, connecting, and empowering people across the country, we have taken substantial steps toward preventing sexual violence. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone involved, including our supporters, partners, and all those who made pledges. Together, we are making a tangible difference in creating a safer and more compassionate society for all.

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Jan 19, 2023
Campus Sexual Violence and Student Loans

By Alyssa Santiago | Director of Development

In 2022, we've conducted research on the connection between campus sexual violence and student loans. We surveyed 88 survivors about the effect that sexual violence had on their student loans. We are continuing this research in 2023 and have published our findings thus far. Our research has also been featured in Teen Vogue and NBC.

As a result of campus sexual violence, many students face increased student debt and/or more difficulty paying off their loans. Our research found that over 80% of victims of campus sexual assault are burdened with student loans.

Many survivors of campus sexual violence have to retake courses after withdrawing from classes to recover, taking medical leave, or falling behind and failing as a result of trauma. Survivors can lose their scholarships because they change programs or leave extracurriculars, like sports, in order to avoid their attacker or to take time to process their trauma. Others lose their scholarship because it takes them longer to graduate or they have to retake courses.

Some survivors of campus sexual violence are forced to drop out due to PTSD, feeling unsafe, or processing the trauma. They often struggle to find financial security because they do not have their degree. Many survivors discussed the emotional turmoil of being forced to pay the institution that failed to protect them.

For many survivors, student debt is a burden that prevents them from moving on with their lives. 77.9% percent of our survey participants believe that all student loans should be canceled. Unfortunately, any loan forgiveness program that is limited to survivors would require proof of some kind. This will exclude most survivors. Sexual violence is the most unreported crime, and on college campuses, less than 20% of sexual assault is reported. Furthermore, survivors don’t want to relive their trauma and are scared they won’t be believed. The only option is to cancel student debt for all.

If sexual violence affected your student loans, you can share your experiences here. To learn more, you can follow our research and our campaign #SVStudentLoans on social media!

Your continued support of our research and advocacy empowers us to prevent sexual violence for thousands of people across the country. Thank you!

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