By Luciana Chavez Special to Merced College Sexual violence. Intimate partner violence. Sexual harassment. Human trafficking. Rape. These are the ugly words that describe some of the most vile acts that human beings can inflict on other human beings. The new Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention (RSVP) Program at Merced College hopes to be the strongest antidote to that awful reality for survivors of sexual violence. Their philosophy boils down to a powerful statement of support: “You are not alone.” Estelina Munoz, in her 17th year at Merced College, serves as Director of Disabled Students Program & Services, the Veterans Resource Center and Student Health Services. All are key partners in the Coordinated Community Response Team (CCRT) that oversees the RSVP Program. “We know that even though we have very low numbers of reported assaults on campus, it doesn’t mean it’s not happening,” Munoz said. “People aren’t comfortable talking about it, so they may not know who their allies are or where to report these crimes. Really the core purpose of this federal grant and the program is to create a cultural change on campus.” According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center:

• One in 5 women and one in 16 men are sexually assaulted in college.
• Two-thirds of all college students will be sexually harassed.
• Nine of 10 college women who are victims of rape know their offender.
• More than 90% of all sexual assaults go unreported.

Munoz said disabled students, foster youth and veterans are among the subpopulations on college campuses that are especially vulnerable to abuse. “We support those students by making sure they know services and other workshops are tailored to their experiences,” she said. Lupe Garcia, Program Director of Merced’s Valley Crisis Center, another CCRT partner, said the center has delivered required trainings to students, faculty and classified professionals. The center is also a key resource for partners, with expertise on securing housing for people fleeing dangerous situations. With survivors, the center staff brings to the table extensive experience with the process of securing restraining orders, along with a firm commitment to support victims during forensic exams if they don’t want to go alone. The center, which helps about 900 survivors annually, operates in English, Spanish and Hmong. It also offers a slate of peer support groups in all three languages. And Daisy Castillo, an experienced Valley Crisis Center employee, is now the RSVP Campus Advocate at Merced College. “The fact that Daisy is on campus and knows our operation helps us make our services more accessible to the college community,” Garcia said. “Without access or information, folks get stuck in cycles. So, when you create safe spaces with good partnerships, you can discuss very difficult topics. Survivors then realize there is support on and off campus.”

Trauma-informed practice Experiencing sexual violence makes victims feel deeply vulnerable and ashamed. For the RSVP program to make a difference, everyone on the CCRT had to commit to delivering trauma-informed care. The philosophy acknowledges that trauma is complex and influences every part of a person’s life, and that survivors need empathy and empowerment. Officers with the Merced College Police Department, another CCRT partner, already receive training on investigating sexual violence crimes and working with victims in a respectful way through Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). But Merced College Chief of Police Jeffrey Horn said his officers are getting so much from the trauma-informed training required by the OVW grant. Officer Tanner Greene has completed training on sexual assault on college campuses, how to make students feel heard and supported, and working with LGBTQ+ communities. “Sometimes even just hearing a statistic can turn on a light for us,” Greene said. For example, during a class on human trafficking, Greene was shocked to learn that 42% of people who lure victims into human trafficking are women. “It was the way they phrased it,” Greene said. “It’s a more concrete version of the problem, something I can wrap my mind around and act on.” Greene added that learning more about the abuses the LGBTQ+ community regularly face will improve the entire department. “It has not always been an easy relationship between cops and the LGBTQ+ community,” he said. “Hopefully we can ease some of their fears and discomfort.”

New skills and allies

Law enforcement is a different beast, since officers must adhere to Title IX and the education code, which is enforced on school grounds, along with the criminal code. “This is my 26th year in law enforcement, and I had no idea what Title IX meant for campus law enforcement before I came here,” Horn said. “Getting additional training on that is very important.” With fresh insights on their work, campus police suggested hiring a campus advocate. There was no money in the grant for it, but Munoz and Dean of Student Services Joe Serena gained permission from the state to use basic needs money to hire Castillo on a trial basis. Said Horn, “We just felt that having an advocate working directly with the CCRT, along with the extra training and extra effort everyone is putting in, would be most effective for our goals.” The RSVP Program launched by first polling students about their needs. It dug deeper with focus groups. Then it asked for help. Sophomore Eileen Reyes, a survivor of rape and sexual abuse from childhood, volunteered. “I thought, if I could do it, I could help someone get out of a situation I’ve been in,” said Reyes, 37. “But I’m always second-guessing myself. I had to gain the courage to say, ‘Yes, I can help.’” The business major serves as the RSVP Student Ambassador. Reyes has found strength by enrolling in college as an adult and sharing her own trauma story as an ally. “Before I became a student ambassador, I would tell my story and people would get so emotional, just knowing they’re not alone,” she said. RSVP exists so everyone knows that crimes like dating violence, sexual assault and stalking will not be tolerated. “Anyone can be a victim of abuse,” Reyes said. “We all want to make sure campus is a safe haven for students.” Anyone on campus who has experienced sexual assault, abuse or trauma in their lives should consider contacting the Merced College RSVP Program for help at 209-756-6446 or campus.advocate@mccd.edu.