Abuse, Harassment, Assault, Rape: Not on my Campus
There is so much you can still do online to raise awareness of sexual violence on campus.
In the midst of this critical public health crisis, it is imperative that we keep engaged in and support the fight against gender-based violence and continue to grow this movement nationally and globally. Together we stand in solidarity as we demand safety, healing, and violence-free lives for us all.
Some things you can do:
Build an Online Team
Creating change around issues of sexual violence on campus is a big task and you can’t do it alone. Gather the support of friends, classmates and activists you know who are organizing and being outspoken on other issues online.
Bring Denim Day to Your Online Campus Community
Denim Day is not only about wearing jeans, but also about collective action to support survivors and educate ourselves and others about sexual violence. Utilize technology to cultivate activism to end sexual violence with your schoolmates.
Give Money
Run a Dollars 4 Denim Fundraiser to Support to Survivors
Engage with your online community by asking them to support direct critical and life-saving services for survivors. Help rape crisis centers like Peace Over Violence continue protecting the health of our community by being as responsive as possible to those who need us—for as long as it takes.
Your monetary contribution to Peace Over Violence also supports the operation of the longest running domestic and sexual violence hotline in the country. The LA rape and battery hotline is a lifeline providing safety planning, remote shelter placement, legal advocacy, emotional support and crisis management.
Purchase Denim Day Swag
Peace Over Violence, a sexual and domestic violence crisis center, is the home of Denim Day. We run an online store featuring a variety of materials and swag to raise funds to support our work toward building a survivor-focused and healing-centered movement.
GIVE TO YOUR LOCAL RAPE CRISIS CENTER
Find your local center by visiting centers.rainn.org
Sexual Violence Online Forums
Consider hosting one or more sexual assault online forums with your college administration, relevant staff and other students. If your group has prepared messaging or demands, you may want to present some of these demands at the end of the online forum and share with the larger online community how to get involved and stay in the loop on the progress of your campaign’s actions. Explore platforms like Zoom, Instagram or FB Live, YouTube, etc
The (Virtual) Clothesline Project
Survivors of violence and allies are invited to decorate a t-shirt speaking out against sexual violence and hang it amongst other t-shirts with messaging as a display that spreads awareness. Upon the Covid-19 pandemic, several colleges held virtual Clothesline Projects. Check out what University of Virginia did!
(Virtual) Take Back the Night
A national movement in which events are organized to raise awareness about sexual violence. See takebackthenight.org for details. Many colleges and universities are hosting Take Back The Night virtual events that include activities such as social media campaigns, virtual survivor speak-outs and virtual candlelight vigils. Check out Ohio University’s Take Back the Night virtual event!
Other ideas
Organize a team on your social media networks to organize virtual solidarity actions and events. Share digital materials and engage with people online
Participate in policy advocacy
Create art for this movement
Commit to being an UPSTANDER, actively engaging in the eradication of rape culture while supporting survivors of sexual violence
Write about the movement to end sexual violence and share or publish it. Create a network of Denim Day participants in your community by asking five people to wear jeans on 4.24.19 and register their participation on denimdayinfo.org
Host a Netflix Party discussion. Need ideas? Try Unbelievable, The Hunting Ground or Audrey & Daisy
If you are a student, you may also want to engage your student community in some online actions.These include letters to decision-makers, presenting reform proposals/demands to administration, outreach to media, writing articles, open letters and petitions, among other activist efforts. Some ideas are:
Writing Op-Eds and Letters to the Editor
Create Your Own Media, record a podcast, do an Instagram Live or write a blog
Contact Alumni Allies to help strengthen your online presence
Run a Dollars for Denim Campaign
Learn more at:
eradicaterape.org
knowyourix.org
nsvrc.org