Her Campus (HC): Tell us about kNOw More and what it stands for. What is the club’s primary message and goal?
Nicole Sargent (NS): Our motto is support, response and prevention. This means we support those who have been a victim of power-based personal violence. We give victims the opportunity to respond to what happened to them either through resources or conversation and we help educate the public of the reality of violence, signs and prevention. Power-based personal violence refers to violent acts by someone trying to enforce their power over the victim in various forms, including sexual assault/harassment, domestic abuse, stalking and more.
HC: What made you decide to join this organization and how do you think it has shaped you or affected you?
NS: Growing up, power-based personal violence had been a big part of my life and has impacted my world, changing me into who I am today. I am very passionate about the education and prevention of violence like this. I never really found my place here at FSU until I found this board; the group is very warm and inviting, making it a safe place to go for support. I really loved this atmosphere and I decided this was where I needed to be.
HC: A lot of people are unaware of this on campus. What is one thing you would want people to know about this club or it’s defining trait?
NS: One thing I want people to know about this club is that it is not a man-hating, triggering, depressing organization. Our focus is not on what happened in the act of violence but how to move past it, how to support others going through it and how to prevent it. We try to keep the meeting more as discussions (as well as event planning); we do not lecture or shame anyone, we open a conversation for people to express as much, or as little, as they would like.
HC: How did you get the position of administrative chair and what was the process like?
NS: To get this position, I had to go through the application process just like everyone else. But before I applied, I showed my interest at the general body meetings and reached out to preexisting chairs to ask questions and to get the full idea of what my position would entail. I later was told I got the position because of my proactive ambition and progressive ideas.
HC: Guide us through a typical day of your life as the administrative chair: what are some of your duties and obligations?
NS: Here on the kNOw More Student Advisory Board, no chair is above the other; we have a system built to where we all have our separate duties, but we all collaborate and help each other with events and ideas. As Administrative Chair, some of my duties include ensuring our members stay active and stay volunteering, I ensure our meetings are planned and we have a full agenda for them, I also keep record of ideas and concerns from our members. All of our events are created through both the chairs and members, we believe it is important that we take input from those not in a chair.
HC: What are your goals as the chair and for the club?
NS: I have big goals for my time as chair of kNOw More. One thing we are working towards is expanding our reach, we want to grow our board by adding more members and creating more events with other organizations on campus to bring more attention from the public to our cause. I also have a goal pertaining to big changes within FSU RSO’s itself but that’s still under wraps for now!
HC: Why do you think this organization is important on campus?
NS: I believe that what we stand for and what we do is very important on campus. A good amount of FSU students will be victim of some aspect of power-based personal violence during their time here. In order to build a healthy community, we as a whole need to be aware of this and work towards support, response and prevention. Change can’t happen if only few recognize it, change happens when the whole acknowledges it and moves towards a brighter tomorrow.
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