URI Student Senate and other on-campus organizations are in the midst of their Red Zone campaigns, bringing awareness to the first six weeks of college when first-year students are most at risk for sexual assault.
“They typically are exploring their surroundings, maybe have more access to substances than they’ve had before, and that combination adds for them to be at so much more risk for sexual assault than if they were established already within our community,” Kelley Ryan, coordinator for Violence Prevention and Advocacy Services, said.
This year’s Red Zone has coincided with the reemergence of the Cornell 7 case, a Jane Doe gang rape allegation at Cornell University accusing seven brothers of the Chi Phi fraternity with sexual assault and coerced consumption of alcohol and ketamine. The plaintiff initially filed a sexual assault report at Cornell on Nov. 8, 2024 and is now pursuing legal action against the university, Chi Phi chapters and the seven brothers of Chi Phi, according to reporting from the Cornell Daily Sun.
In past years, Red Zone initiatives have typically been led by URi-STAND and the Bystander Prevention Program, directed by the late Keith Labelle. Now, the student senate has taken over by posting infographics to their Instagram page on @rhodysenate.
URI Health Promotion also set up tables during Sexual Assault Awareness Week from Sunday, Sept. 20 to Saturday.
URI supports student awareness by hosting a VPAS presentation about consent, safety and confidential reporting to URI 101 classes, according to Ryan.
“Most universities actually talk about the Red Zone in their orientation, and then also talk to first-year students about it,” Ryan said.
The senate’s infographics so far have included information about consent, bystander intervention, how to be a supportive friend and knowing about confidential university resources.
“These are places on campus where students can go that are not required to report names to Title IX or the police,” Ryan said.
One of those confidential resources is VPAS, which is located on the lower level of the Health Services building. Ryan said that Health Services is open seven days a week for students who have been impacted by sexual assault to visit.
“You don’t even need to call if you don’t want to,” Ryan said. “You can bring a friend in and receive completely free, confidential medical care.”
Ryan said that the best way to prevent and mitigate instances of sexual assault in the URI community is to establish a culture that sexual assault is unacceptable.
“Most individuals who harm others harm multiple people, and typically, those around the person who harms others are aware of their behavior or ignore the behavior or provide environments where that behavior can occur,” Ryan said. “Until those people address either their friend’s behavior, their acquaintance’s behavior, their teammate’s behavior or their brother’s behavior, it will continue to happen.”
Isabella Neighbors, director of communications for the student senate, also said that students have a responsibility to look out for one another.
“Trust your gut for starters,” Neighbors said. “If something feels off, don’t do it.”
Ryan said that sexual assault reporting at the university is a survivor-driven process.
“Students are afraid of what happens if people find out,” Ryan said. “At URI, you’re going to be presented with resources and options, and you get to decide what those options are.”
