During Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Cosumnes River College highlights its year-round resources including WEAVE, Title IX and the Student Health and Wellness Center to support students and prevent sexual violence.
April raises awareness by educating communities on how to prevent sexual assault. Students have access to the Student Health and Wellness Center, where they can meet with a mental health therapist, WEAVE, a confidential support service for survivors, and the Title IX office, which protects student rights and addresses complaints of sexual misconduct.
“I think for those who experience sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual abuse, I wish people understood that the college takes it very seriously and that we create a conducive environment for them to come forward and that we provide resources,” Taedel Emiru, Vice President of Student Services and Title IX Coordinator said.
WEAVE advocates are confidential, meaning anything shared with them will remain private unless permission is given, said Tess Covarrubias, a Los Rios WEAVE Advocate.
“WEAVE tries to hire staff that are diverse and speak multiple languages as of now we have legal advocates and counselors that speak English and Spanish and we use a language interpreting service,” Covarubbius said.
Sexual assault can look like sexual intercourse, forced sodomy, incest, fondling, rape and the important thing too is the key part of consent we use affirmative consent, said Katherine Gaston, a Los Rios community college mental health advocate who also works on our campus.
Sexual assault is any nonconsensual sexual act proscribed by federal, tribal, or state law, including when the victim lacks capacity to consent, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Student Health and Wellness offers up to six free therapy sessions to students who are experiencing sexual violence and if this is something they want to move forward in they can meet with a mental health advocate and navigate long term therapy, said Gaston.
When a student reports an assault the Title IX office is contacted and they will immediately reach out to the student to ensure that the student is safe and not in danger, said Emiru.
The Title IX office will then connect students with resources that are available on campus like a WEAVE confidential advocate like Covarrubias.
“We usually take our time to create an environment, a welcoming environment so that they can feel free and comfortable in sharing how they feel,” Emiru said. “We don’t want to put them in a situation where they’re not listened to or that they’re not valued.”
All Los Rios campuses are participating in Denim Day on April 30. Denim Day began after Italian court overturned a rape conviction in 1992, arguing that the victim wore tight jeans and so the act was consensual, according to the denimday.org website.
Other than Denim Day, we have painted the campus teal which decorates trees with flyers featuring quotes, and they also provide access to services on the flyers, Gaston said.