By Katie Schleiss
After reviewing similar models of sexual assault assistance programs at other institutions, the University of Portland will now only allow faculty and staff members to be trained as SAFE -- Stop Assault for Everyone -- Advocates.
Previously, in the 2007-2008 school year, SAFE Advocates included students, faculty and staff members.
SAFE Advocates carry a cell phone 24-hours a day that survivors of sexual assault can dial to speak with a trained professional who can offer them support and guidance.
According to Kristina Houck, Counselor at the University Health Center, this change was enacted because the University wanted to ensure that professionals were responsible for providing the best support possible for survivors of sexual assault.
SAFE Advocates are trained to be able to direct individuals affected by sexual assault to both campus and local resources.
The advocates are also trained to answer questions concerning emotional, medical and legal concerns that may arise.
SAFE Advocates are also able to explain the options available for reporting sexual assaults and offer information regarding the filing of a complaint through the University's judicial system.
"By remaining a neutral, supportive resource, advocates do not have to know 'all the facts,' assign responsibility or determine guilt or innocence. Their advocacy and support allows the respective individuals involved in an incident the ability to make informed decisions regarding their options," Houck said.
Kathleen Staten, Dean's Assistant of the School of Education, is entering her second year as a SAFE Advocate and recommends that any faculty or staff member who is interested in supporting survivors of sexual assault through providing survivors with options and support become a SAFE Advocate.
"Personal experience as a survivor made me want to reach out to and be available to anyone that may need support. I participate in this university group in an effort to let survivors of assault know they are not alone. We are just a phone call or an office on campus away," Staten said.
According to Campus Ministry's Stacey Noem, another returning SAFE Advocate, potential advocates also need to realize the responsibility that comes with becoming a SAFE Advocate. Additionally, those who decide to undergo training need to be well prepared.
"You have to know what you are potentially getting yourself into as a SAFE advocate," Noem said. "The Health Center and Kristina Houck do an excellent job of training and supporting us as advocates."
The SAFE Advocate program is the most recent version of a 24-hour resource line for students affected by sexual assault that has evolved over the past several years.
Programs similar to the SAFE Advocate have been available to university students since 1992. From 1992 until 2003, faculty and staff were available for on call resource assistance through a pager system.
In 2003, students were able to join university faculty and staff in this pager system in a program called HARAN. Eventually, in 2004, this program became entirely made up of university students and ran for one year.
According to Houck, student interest faded the following year and the system came to rely upon the University Health Center on-call counselor system. From 2005 until 2007, the University Health Center's counselors continued to provide support for sexual assault survivors seeking assistance.
The SAFE Advocate program was created in 2007 by the University Health Center through the collaboration and support of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Education Team (SAPET).
All faculty and staff members who are interested in becoming a SAFE Advocate should contact Houck.
All SAFE Advocates are expected to attend a two and a half hour training session and be willing to carry the phone at least one week per semester.
After the training of the new SAFE Advocates has been completed and the accurate list of all SAFE Advocates has been compiled, the list will be posted on the University Health Center's website.
