NDSU students are showing their peers how to intervene in potentially harmful situations. And their efforts are being highlighted in a prominent on-campus “Take a Stand” poster series.
Created by NDSU Sexual Assault Prevention Programs, the poster series features students and text that dispels myths surrounding sexual violence or highlights social norms that lead to a hostile culture.
A senior from Perley, Minn., Mercedes Lee’s poster focused on breaking down the myth of false sexual assault reports. “Only about 3 to 6 percent of reported sexual assaults turn out to be false,” she said.
Lee, who is majoring in English and women and gender studies, said it was important for a campaign to highlight the power of positive peer influence.
“We wanted to show how students speak out against these norms and myths,” said Sarah Dodd, assistant director of sexual assault prevention and advocacy at NDSU. “The posters focused on the really positive, wonderful ways students interact on campus and make it a better community.”
The posters convey messages of intervening peacefully during aggressive situations, actively supporting victims of violence and intervening when conversations include victim blaming or objectification of women. The series also features QR codes that lead students to YouTube videos featuring more information.
Approximately 32 percent of college students are victims of domestic violence, according to the National Center for Victims of Crime. Dodd said her office is focused primarily on prevention. “For a long time campuses only focused on risk reduction, self defense and other activities. Those are still critical, but I think we’re a leader in changing the environment on campus, primarily through bystander intervention. The poster campaign is a clear example of this.”
The posters were prominently displayed in high-traffic areas such as the Memorial Union, residence halls and the Wellness Center prior to the fall 2013 semester.
A first series of 10 posters, funded with an NDSU Development Foundation grant, were first displayed in fall 2012. It’s just one example of Sexual Assault Prevention Programs’ efforts. Dodd said a two-hour program called “We Take a Stand” is being developed to train first-year students how to recognize and intervene in potentially violent situations.
As evidenced by the poster campaigns, some students already are active in spreading the message. Lee is a charter member of the Violence Prevention Educators student group, which trains students about sexual and relationship violence and develops prevention and awareness efforts on the NDSU campus. NDSU held its third annual Take Back the Night event Sept. 19.
“All of the students were selected because they are living the message,” Dodd said.
More information about the campaign, including images of the posters, is available at www.ndsu.edu/student_life/departments_and_programs/sexual_assault_prevention/resources/the_take_a_stand_campaign/#c280740.
NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.