The Sexual Assault Awareness Advocacy Committee (SAAAC) was technically established years ago, but it was inactive on campus until recently.
Today, the SAAAC is a fully functioning ASUCD committee that provides resources to help students be more aware of sexual assault on campus.
Rachelle Fishbin, a fourth-year political science and gender studies double major, got involved with SAAAC two years ago. After interning with the Women’s Resources and Research Center (WRRC), she saw an opening for SAAAC and leaped at the chance to learn more about gender violence.
“Most students have heard of Title IX in regards to gender equity, but not sexual assault specifically,” she said.
“We can’t take reports of sexual assault ourselves at SAAAC, but we can guide them to the Title IX office,” she said. “Letting students know about the rights that they have is really important, and many students aren’t aware of them. If they were aware of them, they’d might be more comfortable reporting.”
One of Fishbin’s projects has been to create an online portal where students can anonymously report information about sexual violence on campus.
“Previously, you’d have to report to HDAPP in person or over the phone,” she said. “What’s really exciting about an anonymous reporting portal is that it’s online, which helps students who are intimidated by administration.”
Additionally, the new portal allows students to report situations without forcing them into a full-blown investigation.
“There weren’t degrees of information you could share. You’d have to share everything you knew,” said Fishbin. “With the portal, students can share anything from an individual that you want the school to know about or an organization that the campus should be concerned about, without actually filing a report.”
Part of the reason why the SAAAC pursued the anonymous reporting portal as a project is because many campus faculty, administrators, and staff are responsible employees – people who work on campus and are obligated under Title IX to report discrimination and sexual violence.
SAAAC can also guide students towards a variety of on-campus and local resources, including but not limited to:
- Center for Advocacy Resources and Education (http://care.ucdavis.edu/) (CARE), where students receive free confidential support services
- Harassment and Discrimination Assistance and Prevention Program (https://hdapp.ucdavis.edu/) (HDAPP), where students can file a report for discrimination and sexual violence
- Women’s Resources and Research Center (http://wrrc.ucdavis.edu/) (WRRC), where students can find support and information on how to support a friend who has experienced sexual violence
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual Resource Center (http://lgbtqia.ucdavis.edu/) (LGBTQIARC), where students can access consultations and identity-specific resources
- Resource centers within the Cross Cultural Center, where students can share information or seek advice from employees who are not obligated to report to Title IX
- Counseling and Psychological Services (https://shcs.ucdavis.edu/counseling-services) (CAPS), where students can make appointments with an on-campus counselor
- Empower Yolo (http://empoweryolo.org/), where students can access legal services, counseling services, safety shelter and housing, and crisis support
- My Sister’s House (http://www.my-sisters-house.org/), where students can access a 24-hour hotline, counseling sessions, and support groups
For more information, visit http://sexualviolence.ucdavis.edu/docs/sexual_violence_support_brochure_may17.pdf