After joining a sorority during the spring semester of my junior year, I had a lot of expectations for what it was going to be like: I envisioned developing close friendships, dressing up for ceremonies and events social. I knew I wanted to work closely with my sorority’s philanthropy and spend some of my free time volunteering with my sisters. However, I never imagined that joining a sorority would inspire me to become a strong advocate in the fight against sexual assault on college campuses.
Yes, sexual assault happens here at American University. It’s not just something we share articles about on Facebook or see in the news. It’s happening here. In an effort to combat this epidemic, our campus offers excellent programs that educate students about bystander intervention and sexual consent.
A few weeks after joining a sorority, my sisters and I were encouraged to take bystander intervention training. The general consensus among those present, myself included, was that there were thousands of places we would rather be. Our training took place at the tavern with hundreds of people seated at tables too small for the number of people in the room. I was sitting in the back of the tavern and could barely hear the entertainers over the faint murmur of each table immersed in their own hushed conversation. After a few minutes of struggling to understand the presenters, I turned to my friends at my table and joined in our own conversation.
Greek social life organizations largely feel “targeted” during training on bystander intervention and consent to AU. Members of the Greek community react by complaining and dismissing these trainings as if they were seen as insignificant and unimportant, and behave the same way I did my freshman year. During my first experience with formal AU bystander intervention training, I chose to think that I didn’t need it and that the information provided had no value to me or my friends. I was wrong.
Since that day, I have realized that the training on bystander intervention and consent applies to me. I’ve heard countless stories from students across campus, both sorority and non-sorority members, about finding themselves in uncomfortable situations with a drunk, overly handsy person who wouldn’t leave them alone at a party. . I want to think that all AU students will feel that they have a responsibility to intervene in a situation where a fellow student feels uncomfortable or appears to be in serious danger, but that is not the case.
As the Vice President of Harm Reduction at the Panhellenic Council, I believe that while sexual assault occurs within all of the different groups, clubs, and organizations on campus, we cannot ignore what is happening within the Greek community. Our sisters and brothers are not only the victims or survivors of this crime, but they are also the perpetrators. Because we are the ones who organize and attend many of the parties where some sexual assaults occur on campus, we should all take ownership of what is happening within our shared community. With this understanding, we have the opportunity to ensure that we attend and host parties with a culture of consent at the forefront of every action we take.
This is possible because the AU Greek Community is a community of social justice-minded, activist, and motivated student leaders in all aspects of life.
This is not something we can take lightly and it is not going to happen overnight. But it’s important to start this discussion. Panhellenic women, and all students, should demand that everyone feels safe if we are in a social situation with other AU students, whether in our residence halls or at a party. Although sexual assault can still occur, it will continue to occur less frequently if we take bystander intervention and consent training seriously and are prepared to intervene when other students are in trouble.
With Welcome Week behind us, American University’s incoming freshman class probably also felt a little “focused,” the same way I felt in January of my freshman year. Welcome Week requires first-year students to attend orientation programs and presentations on all types of health and wellness topics. However, I encourage the incoming freshman class to be grateful for this programming because you have chosen a campus that cares enough about its students to offer you trainings like Empower AU, Step Up, and other peer trainings.
Welcome Week is the first time most first-year students make decisions entirely for themselves. Now is the time to decide whether you want to be the kind of person who will give a valuable presentation or whether you will take advantage of the opportunities our campus offers us. This is the time for you to help create a culture of consent by being an active bystander in your daily life. Now is the time to make a difference: what type of actions will you choose to take?
Sam Russell is a student in the School of International Service and vice president of risk management for the AU Panhellenic Council.