According to RAINN’s website, every 73 seconds a person is sexually assaulted in the United States. However, many of those cases go unreported because of fear or confusion surrounding the incident.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), and the Lee College Campus Sexual Violence Elimination (SaVE) Act program wants to remind everyone about the on- and off-campus resources available to assist students and employees at any stage in their journey as a survivor or a person who supports survivors of sexual assault.
Kassandra Flores, Puente Program Coordinator and Campus SaVE Advisor explains that some individuals may have experienced this type of assault and developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result. Programs like Campus SaVE and SAAM are designed to help educate faculty, staff and students and give them a means to identify and name some of those experiences.
“I think one of the greatest things about Sexual Assault Awareness Month is that people are actively sharing their stories, statistics, resources, and most importantly, showing support,” said Flores. “Sometimes all the other person needs to hear is ‘I believe you’ and ‘you are not alone.’”
If you or someone you know has experienced any form of sexual violence, to include sexual harassment, stalking, intimate partner violence, or sexual assault, help and resources are available.
The Campus SaVE advisory committee consists of both campus and community representatives. This group meets several times each semester to discuss policy and bringing information to the campus regarding sexual harassment, domestic violence, stalking, dating violence, and sexual assault.