Keith Labelle, the Deputy Director of Title IX, came to discuss the i-Stand Program. Labelle gives presentations to student organizations and hosts awareness events. Labelle’s work involves everything pertaining to sexual violence prevention, including the four classes he teaches on campus.
One goal of the presentations is to change how students approach rape culture, according to Labelle.
“Stop teaching women how to not get raped and start teaching men to respect everybody and to respect their partners,” Labelle said.
Labelle highlights that education is the key to prevention. Conversations surrounding dating violence typically discuss black eyes and bloody lips, the physical aspects seen on television. Less recognized is non-physical violence, where a partner exudes power or control over the other.
Labelle notes that it is not just male offenders and female victims when it comes to partner violence.
To spark a conversation, Labelle asked the women “What do you do on a daily basis to protect yourself from assault?” Women said they check in and under their car, carry pepper spray, walk with their keys out, pretend to talk on the phone and more. This puts into perspective all of the things women have to worry about on a daily basis. Labelle adds that women have been socialized from childhood to protect themselves against predators.
6% of the campus population commit 90% of the sexual violence. The predators have multiple victims and do it over and over again.
60% of campus rapes take place in victims own space. 30% of the time, the predator is someone the victims felt safe around.
The most dangerous time in a woman’s life is during the first six weeks of college, referred to as the “red zone”. This is where the most assaults take place as students are socializing and drinking alcohol for the first time.
i-Stand partners with: It’s On Us, the national bystander intervention organization, to send the message that it is on all of us to prevent sexual assault.
Labelle will be teaching a bystander intervention course CSV302 Tuesdays and Thursdays during both semesters.
Some members of the Senate body expressed concerns when Labelle played a public video of the testimony of a survivor of sexual assault on the URI campus.
“I had no idea that this video was going to be played,” Speaker Chadronet said. “Had I been made aware in advance, I would have asked that it not be played.”
URI has some confidential sources students for students to report sexual assault. Health services VPAS provides support, advocacy, information and resources. VPAS can be contacted at 401.874.9131 or [email protected]. Additional confidential sources are Pastoral Services and the Counseling Center.
Chair Peckham mentioned a sale on professional business attire at JCPenney. The sale will take place this Sunday, Oct. 8 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Warwick Mall. JCPenney will be closing the sale to URI students with discounts up to 50% off. When students show their URI ID, an additional percentage off will be applied.
To file academic complaints on professors or courses, students can visit the Student Senate Website. Chair Peckham encourages students to submit their complaints sooner rather than later.
The Senate will meet next Wednesday, Oct. 11.