SAPAC at UMich

SAPAC @U Mich

Sexual assault can and does happen anywhere. This is a terrifying reality that hits home even harder on college campuses; a place that is supposed to be a safe haven for students to find themselves and gain experience before entering the adult world. Nonetheless, according to the documentary “The Hunting Ground: The Inside Story of Sexual Assault on American College Campuses,” one in five women and one in sixteen men are sexually assaulted on college campuses. The University of Michigan is no exception where, according to a 2017 article in The Tab, “Almost half of sexual assaults reported at UMich occur in freshman dorms.” Between 2014 to 2017, there have been nearly 50 reports of sexual assault and rape on campus. These numbers are alarmingly high, and may even be higher, given that many survivors feel reluctant to report the assault in fear of drawing attention to themselves, getting negative responses, or being harrassed by peers or their perpetrator. Additionally, survivors may not know that their experience falls into the category of sexual assault, because of a lack of awareness and education surrounding what is and what is not consensual sex. Many survivors are then left to live in fear and take on the burdens of college along with the guilt, pressure, and anxiety of their assault with no resources to confront what has happened. A lack of support can be a detrimental obstacle for survivors when having to face their assault and find a way to live on the very campus that’s supposed security has been stripped from them. One of the most significant exacerbations of lack of support for survivors and perpetrators of sexual assault on campuses is an overarching theme of negligence from schools and their institutions. Oftentimes, perpetrators are protected by universities in order to avoid public scrutiny or negative attention to the school, and survivors are neither believed, nor supported when they make the brave choice to step forward. For example, Emma Sulkowicz, a senior at Columbia University, was assaulted in her own dorm room as a sophomore in college. After Emma came forward, numerous women also accused Emma’s perpetrator of assaulting them as well. In the end, the campus judiciary process sided with the accused student, and police also ended their brief investigation of the assaults. In retaliation, Emma decided to start the “Carry That Weight” project for her senior thesis, declaring that she would carry around her dorm mattress wherever she went, until her assaulter no longer attended the university with her. Columbia did not expel or suspend Emma’s assaulter. She accepted her diploma at her graduation while carrying her mattress across the stage. It is crucial that survivors have a resource they can trust for guidance, safety, or even just to have someone to listen to them. Although the Michigan campus environment is neither perfect nor exempt from the ubiquity of sexual assault, the campus Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center (SAPAC) is an accelerating source of support and education that helps categorize Michigan as one of the more progressive schools in the nation in terms of addressing sexual assault. Survivors can utilize SAPAC for anything from counseling, to guidance from professionally trained staff, to a place to access support groups. Allies can go to SAPAC for training to help a friend, or for counseling to get support in the assault of a friend or fellow student. I sat down with Nora Akcasu, a SAPAC volunteer and volunteer co-coordinator to discuss the issue of campus sexual assault, her experience with SAPAC, and what the campus resources offer for survivors and allies.

Interview: Friday, January 19th 2018 1. What is SAPAC? What resources does it provide?

Nora: The main thing is that we have confidential advocacy services by trained counselors who meet with survivors and help them navigate legal processes—if that’s an avenue they choose to take—and emotional trauma, as well as allies who may not know how to give support. We also have a twenty-four hour crisis line that advocates answer, and, if necessary, they can meet the victim somewhere, such as the hospital. We also have a Peer-Led Support Group that students can drop-in to and engage in self-care activities with their peers.

2. What kinds of programs does SAPAC provide on campus to spread awareness?

Nora: We have “Speak Out” every year. It’s our longest running program; it’s been running thirty-two years. Our other major event is our art show in April called “Revolution.” It has themes of sexual violence and healing and empowerment. Students always submit their art. This year, we’re starting a DIY type magazine. We’re holding an event in the Union, and you can come and collage things with themes of self love and empowerment, and we’ll display it at Rev. We’re also going to call for poetry submissions. But those are just things that my volunteer group, SEAS, is doing. There are two other volunteer groups that each have their own projects and focus on different levels of sexual assault prevention. 3.How long have you been working at SAPAC?

Nora: I’ve been a volunteer since I was freshman, and I’ve been a volunteer co-coordinator for the Survivor Empowerment and Ally

Support program for 2017-2018.

4. Recently, professors have been putting the information for CAPS and SAPAC on syllabi for students in case they need support throughout the semester. Would you say a lot of students utlilize the resources at SAPAC?

Nora: I think so. A lot of students use it, but certainly through advocacy they hear about it. I think sometimes it’s helpful to know as a student that your teachers won’t reprimand you if you’re going through something. The syllabus isn’t mandated; they were able to enforce the mental health blurb, but we had a hard time convincing teachers why having the SAPAC component on there was relevant to students’ academic performances. In my personal experience, it was mostly women’s studies teachers that agreed, whereas other teachers weren’t really understanding of the significance. I don’t have an exact estimate of how many teachers incorporate this into their syllabi or which classes they teach, though.

5. With the recent emphasis on mental health, do you think students at Michigan put their mental health first, or is there still a lack of concern on campus about students’ mental wellbeing?

Nora: I think at a university that’s as academically competitive as Michigan, it’s hard to prioritize your mental health. You have to make that decision and decide if getting that assignment in is more important. As self care comes more into the mainstream, I think some people have misconceptions about what it is. Something that SAPAC wants to emphasize is that it’s about reflecting on relationships and your life and making decisions that benefit your long-term wellbeing. People sometimes equate self-care with self-indulgence, but it doesn’t have to be. Self-care can be short-term or long-term; it doesn’t have to be instant gratification for it to be an intentional action that prioritizes your health.

6. What is the most common reason a student might go to SAPAC?

Nora: I think most of our involvement with students is through volunteering, and a lot of our engagement is with actual participating students and advocacy on campus. But students come to seek SAPAC services for all kinds of reasons. They themselves may have experienced an assault or intimate partner violence or another type of sexual violence. Students also may come to SAPAC with questions about how to support their friends who might be dealing with a difficult situation.

So it’s open to both survivors and allies.

7. In your experience, do you think students at Michigan are aware of or in discussion about issues of assault on college campuses?

Nora: I think recently yes, definitely, and probably at Michigan more than other schools. We have a much more developed sexual assault program than other schools. We’ve been around for thirty years, but a lot of other schools are just now making changes. Even in the last four years, I’ve seen a difference. But now that many people are aware that sexual assault is happening, we need to educate them on how to respond when an assault happens and how to reduce the incidence of this problem.

8. Do you think assault is a prevalent issue at Michigan? What can we as students do to make an impact and eradicate rape culture on campus?

Nora: It’s definitely still a very pervasive issue; in the recent 2015 campus climate survey, it wasn’t good. One out of ten students said they had experienced sexual assault since starting at Michigan. A big thing is just supporting people, supporting your friends, being an ally and believing people when they say they’ve been assaulted. We have an ally training program which is eight hours, and professional staff presents presentations on how to respond to a victim and how the power-control wheel affects people. One of the biggest things you can do is holding people accountable, particularly in more insular social circles. You shouldn’t forgive them for transgressions just to keep up the status quo.

9. Has there been any intervention in Greek Life in terms of sexual assault?

Nora: One of our volunteer groups does workshops with Greek Life, and even though it’s really important, some people don’t understand why it’s really essential. In a fraternity, they should be holding each other accountable and stepping in when necessary and supporting people who’ve been affected by sexual assault. And the same is true for sororities.

10. What can students do to better educate themselves about assault on campus and how to stay safe, help a victim, or get help themselves?

Nora:Alotofit’saboutpower dynamics for sure. In terms of staying safe and educating yourself, you can rely on help from other people and utilize your friends and allies around you. Open communication is the most important thing. You should also know that you can rely on confidential resources on campus like SAPAC or CAPS. It is not a weakness to seek professional help; it is a strength to know how to help yourself when you need it.

SAPAC’s office is located in the Michigan Union in Room 1551 and is open Monday-Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Their 24-hour crisis line can be reached at (734) 936-3333, and their office phone line can be reached at (734) 764-7771.

By Katherine Feinstein Layout by Manda Villarreal