By Audrey Valenzuela | Staff Writer
Baylor, along with other universities partnered up with Promoting Awareness | Victim Empowerment, are working to bring awareness and education on the Red Zone.
The Red Zone refers to the time between the start of the fall semester and Thanksgiving break, which is when the majority of college campus sexual assaults are reported.
According to Title IX Education and Prevention Specialist Valerie Willis, more than 50% of sexual assaults on campus nationally happen in that time frame. This is where the idea of bringing awareness to the Red Zone through specific prevention efforts came about.
“Baylor has 144 emergency call boxes, and we chose some of the most common areas where students are and placed informational yard signs. These serve as a reminder of the resources available to them and the connection between physical safety measures and educational outreach,” Willis said.
PAVE is a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting and empowering survivors of sexual violence while working to prevent future incidents through education and advocacy. The organization serves individuals of all genders and races, providing a safe, judgment-free space.
There are many resources provided for individuals who have either fallen victim or know someone who has been sexually assaulted. Resources are provided through the Baylor Counseling Center and Title IX in addition to 24/7 hotlines through outside providers.
Title IX offers various prevention education programs that students, faculty and staff can join through their website. There are programs ranging from relationship education to self-defense training.
“Anyone can request customized training on our website if there’s a topic they want to be covered but isn’t offered, as long as it falls under our office. We also collaborate with other student organizations or campus leaders to host training or discussions,” Willis said.
Reporting a sexual assault incident can be intimidating or embarrassing for some. With the help of an anonymous reporting site, students can get the help they need without revealing their identity.
“We provide several confidential resources for students who might be hesitant to report in person, and one of them is our Online Reporting System, which is an ethics point. Students can report anonymously through this and talk back and forth with our office anonymously,” Willis said.
If students aren’t comfortable using campus resources, outside options are readily available. The most commonly used free services are through The Waco Advocacy Center. Anyone can receive counseling services, even if the incident happened years prior.
Aleigh Ascherl, executive director for Waco Advocacy Center said the center is a safe space for victims of sexual assault and abuse from children to adults.
“We have seen our highest numbers in the fall of this last year. We had 131 calls from those who had exams done at the hospital but 600 calls in total to our hotline. Some of those calls came from individuals who didn’t seek medical attention but wanted to discuss the situation and get help,” Ascherl said.
The Advocacy Center also has sexual assault forensic exam nurses who perform rape kits. These nurses respond 24/7 to both Baylor Scott & White Medical Center and Ascension Providence Hospital to get survivors the appropriate medical resources.
The Advocacy Center also engages in prevention education in either group or individual settings with survivors and/or family members.
“The most important thing you could do when someone in your life has experienced sexual assault or sexual violence is to affirm them, believe them and not try to investigate the situation on your own. Just being a support system is a big enough role,” Ascherl said.
If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual violence, report the incident to the Equity, Civil Rights and Title IX Office by submitting a report or speaking to a staff member at 254-710-8454. The Waco Advocacy Center hotline is 254-752-7233, available 24/7.
