Hill SPEAK Provides Resources for SHC Students

Hill SPEAK has provided SHC students all the resources needed to gain knowledge about sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking.

On Spring Hill campus, Hill SPEAK is in charge of the Department of Justice along with overseeing the Office of Violence Against Women Campus Grant that SHC received in 2020. The Violence Against Women Campus Grant is awarded to colleges and universities in the United States in acknowledgment to the hardships that come along with the attempt to prevent and aim to respond accordingly. Hill SPEAK uses a multidisciplinary approach and has worked to increase the opportunities to learn about how to prevent sexual assault cases on campus. The purpose of Hill SPEAK is in the acronym SPEAK: support, prevention, education, advocacy, know your rights. Hill SPEAK has worked to prevent violence from happening, trained bystanders on active interventions, improved professional response to survivors on campus and in the community, and served as a comprehensive care and service to survivors.”

According to Rainn.org, an American, age 12 and up, is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds bringing the average to nearly 500,000 victims of rape and sexual assault each year in the United States. Though one out of every six American women fall victim to attempted or completed sexual assault, any person man or woman can become a victim.

Hill SPEAK Student Ambassador Ashley Burroughs said, “as a student representative on the Hill SPEAK committee, a personal goal of mine was to learn more about what resources the campus has to offer regarding mental health treatments and crisis preventions. I wanted to be able to answer any questions that students may have about seeking mental health assistance through campus and make those resources more widely known.”

According to Burroughs, it is from her understanding that the Office of Violence Against Women Campus Grant is a part of the reason Hill SPEAK was able to come back to SHC’s campus. In the occurrence of a report, Hill SPEAK has the intent to approach the scenario in a timely manner with full transparency and a trauma informed response.

Additionally, through the help of the Coordinated Community Response Team, a team of campus and community partners best educated on comprehensive prevention, student conduct, law enforcement and victim services, Hill SPEAK can fully utilize all valuable assets available to increase student safety.

“It is important for students and administration on our campus to prioritze mental health education, and Hill SPEAK invites a call-toaction for all of us to educate ourselves on the prevalence, prevention, and resources regarding sexual assault.

If you or someone you know is in need of assistance visit the Wellness Center located in Toolen Hall. For more information on Hill SPEAK, email program director Emilee Truitt at etruitt@shc.edu or email the Hill SPEAK department athillspeak@shc.edu.