This April there was a table set up in the Spa that invited people to come and create art that represents their experiences with sexual assault on campus, or write a note of support for survivors of sexual assault. Materials were provided, and many people engaged. The end goal of this project was to make an exhibit in the Pugh Center that is a compilation of survivors’ artwork and survivor support notes. This is one of the ways Emily Schusterbauer, Colby College’s Title IX coordinator, sees Sexual Violence Prevention Month being acknowleged.
“I feel like as a culture, we’re at a point where there is a fair amount of awareness around this issue, so we wanted to have engagement opportunities that went beyond just awareness and instead gave people an opportunity to engage in a range of ways,” Schusterbauer said.
Recently, there was empowerment self-defense training; this art project with Julia Houska, one of Colby’s counselors; and there will be a survivor support circle at the end of the month. “Awareness only goes so far,” Schusterbauer said. Every student at the College is required to participate in a training session with Sexual Violence Prevention (SVP) leaders. Schusterbauer explains that she chose this programming for the month because it seemed that opportunities for survivors in particular were missing. Additionally, she notes that awareness extends into empathy building: “Empathy building is a prevention tool. The more [that] people that understand the impacts of, say, coercing someone to have sex when they’re too drunk, the more likely they are to pause and think about how they want to proceed.” The art project, with the support notes, is one more way of building empathy.
What is important to note, Schusterbauer explains, is that in terms of supporting survivors, there is not a “one size fits all model” that should dictate one’s approach to support, especially because being a survivor on a campus as small as Colby’s often prompts fears regarding unwanted attention or rumors. Schusterbauer notes that, “what survivors really need is someone who will listen to them and understand kind of what they’ve gone through and how specifically support would look for them on this campus.”
The ultimate goal of the survivor support notes is to communicate that people understand how much resilience and perseverance it can take to stay at Colby after experiencing something traumatic.
SVP Leader Ainsley McCrum `28 was a student who helped lead the self-defense training workshop. McCrum described the training as “very valuable,” elaborating that, “you don’t expect a situation like that to happen to you. In reality, though, having basic self-defense skills is incredibly useful in unexpected moments.” In the training, the leaders guided students through various techniques, including strikes, elbows, and kicks. They used pads and practiced on partners. McCrum notes that this “not only made the experience feel hands-on and practical, but also made us confident in our ability to react in one of these situations.” Along with the training, the trainers also shared impactful statistics regarding the frequency and prevalence of sexual violence. McCrum thinks Sexual Violence Awareness Month is important because it “creates space for education, reflection and conversation.”
Schusterbauer agrees that for the month of April especially, it’s important to create these spaces, although they’re still available year-round.
Although the month of April marks a period of reflection and action, the stories expressed through the artworks and notes convey an evergreen message: the need to have empathy and compassion within the Colby community.
If you find yourself in need of support or counseling, contact Emily Schusterbauer, counseling services, or your sexual violence prevention leaders.
~ Molly Garvey `28
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