I truly believe that everyone wants to end sexual violence and show support to the survivors in their life – many people just don’t know how. As April is Sexual Assault Awareness month, Project HEAL at OTC is encouraging you to participate in a community
art piece that provides you the opportunity to do just that. Write a personal note of encouragement to survivors, share your own survivor story, or commit to bystander action and watch as each of these submissions are rolled into the larger picture of a society free from violence.
Submissions can be made anonymously through the form below. Additionally, during the week of April 19 – 22, you can contribute to the art piece in person in the Jared Family Atrium. For updates and progress, follow @projectheal_msu_otc on Instagram.
You are also invited to join our virtual healthy relationship chat on April 27th from 3:00 – 4:00 PM.
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://otc.zoom.us/j/96996930586?pwd=MCtBSGZYb0RxT0tlL0g3SGN0UHoydz09
We welcome you to explore the various resources for students, faculty, and staff on this page, and partner with us in making this campus, and our community, safer for all.
If you or someone you know needs resources or support for any form of interpersonal violence, contact the Project HEAL victim advocate at swadleyr@otc.edu, 417-447-7859, or by clicking on the Victim Services and Resources page to the right.
For free, confidential counseling visit the OTC Counseling Services webpage.
To see how you can get involved with Project HEAL at Missouri State University, click HERE.
Bystander Intervention
Preventing sexual violence is everybody’s responsibility. An engaged bystander is someone who lives up to that responsibility by intervening before, during, or after a situation when they see or hear behaviors that threaten, harass, or otherwise encourage sexual violence.
The behaviors that make up sexual violence exist on a spectrum. While some behaviors – such as sexist jokes, inappropriate sexual comments, innuendos, catcalling, or vulgar gestures – aren’t illegal, this does not make them any less threatening or harmful to the person experiencing them. These situations also take place across a range of locations and settings – often in public spaces, workplaces, schools, communities, and online. All of us must embrace our voices to demonstrate that these behaviors will not be tolerated.
Adapted from the NSVRC Tip Sheet: Bystander Intervention Tips and Strategies
After a Sexual Assault
Click on this link to obtain more information on what to do after experiencing a sexual assault. Remember that someone else’s actions are never your fault. Here at OTC we will believe you and support you.
How to Support a Survivor
It’s not always easy to know what to say when someone tells you they’ve been sexually assaulted, especially if they are a friend or family member. For a survivor, disclosing to someone they care about can be very difficult, so we encourage you to be as supportive and non-judgemental as possible.
Sometimes support means providing resources, such as how to reach the National Sexual Assault Hotline, seek medical attention, or report the crime to the police. But often listening is the best way to support a survivor.
Here are some specific phrases RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline staff recommend to be supportive through a survivor’s healing process.
“I believe you. / It took a lot of courage to tell me about this.”
“It’s not your fault. / You didn’t do anything to deserve this.”
“You are not alone. / I care about you and am here to listen or help in any way I can.”
“I’m sorry this happened. / This shouldn’t have happened to you.”
Content from https://www.rainn.org/articles/tips-talking-survivors-sexual-assault
Resources
OTC has resources on campus for those experiencing harmful relationship behaviors. Counseling Services and the Project HEAL victim advocate both offer free and confidential services. Additional resources are listed below.
The Victim Center
Services: Victim Advocacy, Counseling (individual and group therapy), prevention education
Phone: 417-863-7273
Email: hope@thevictimcenter.org
Victim Center 24-hour Crisis Hotline
Services: Ability to talk over the phone and accompaniment to the hospital or police department
417-864-7233
National Dating Violence Hotline
1-866-331-9474
Engaging Men Subcommittee
At Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) our Engaging Men members are very aware of two significant issues impacting the men on our campus, the first being the fact that men can also be victims of sexual and interpersonal violence, and second, that the effects of toxic masculinity can have a very negative impact on how we as men live our lives.
Stressing the importance of these two factors, the membership of Engaging Men at OTC support the following as our mission: (1) Improve the response protocol and provide support for male-identified survivors of sexual and interpersonal violence; (2) propose activities intended to help our campus male population develop empathy and emotional intelligence; (3) suggest processes that offer campus men a positive, strength-based approach to prevention of gender-based violence; (4) support gender equity; and (5) enhance awareness of the unhealthy aspects of masculinity that may be harmful to the self and others.
For more information or to join the Faculty & Staff Engaging Men Subcommittee or Engaging Men Student Group contact Thomas Bartolotta at bartolot@otc.edu or Rachel Swadley at swadleyr@otc.edu.
Green Dot Bystander Intervention
Take our Bystander Intervention Certification course with your friends. Our 6-hour training sessions will help you learn how to respond safely as a bystander to prevent imminent or potential acts of sexual or interpersonal violence on campus.
Bystander Intervention Certification training is an important part of Green Dot awareness efforts at OTC. Plus, involvement has its benefits. As more and more members of business and industry become aware of the importance of violence prevention, your certification in the nationally recognized Green Dot program will look great on your resume!
Not Anymore
Sexual and interpersonal violence is an important topic that affects the campus community, your classmates, and possibly your loved ones. This is an opportunity to learn more about the topic of sexual and interpersonal violence, and how we can work together to create a safer environment.
Not Anymore training is more than how to conduct oneself, but an opportunity to gather tools on how to help protect our friends, loved ones, and the community against becoming victims. This is a growing concern and this training is a step in arming our students to stand up for each other.
Not Anymore is accessible through your MyOTC portal, and it is recommended that every student complete this training.
Project HEAL Prevention Presentations
Prevention oriented presentations on topics related to interpersonal and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking are available to students, faculty, and staff through Project HEAL. Presentations from Harmony House and The Victim Center can also be requested through Project HEAL. For more information or to schedule a presentation, please contact Rachel Swadley through email at swadleyr@otc.edu or phone 417-447-7859.
Narrated Presentation – Behind Closed Doors? How Interpersonal Violence Can Impact Student Performance
Coordinated Community Response Team
Please contact Kunti Bentley by email at KuntiBentley@MissouriState.edu if you would like to join the Coordinated Community Response Team (CCRT), one of our subcommittees, or for any additional information regarding the CCRT.
Prevention subcommittee
Marketing subcommittee
Law enforcement subcommittee
Underrepresented students subcommittee
Upcoming Events:
Upcoming Project HEAL events will be posted here as they are added to OTC’s Calendar of Events.