First and foremost, welcome to Trinity! I am sure that by now, you have heard from countless people that you have yet to meet about forms to fill out, and opportunities that await you come August. I am writing to you, however, about a more somber topic that I hope you will take very seriously.

Safety is a very important issue at Trinity, and yet often times, we forget that ultimately it is our responsibility to make smart decisions and to watch out for ourselves. Sexual assault and rape are unfortunately very prevalent on college campuses. Anyone can be the victim of sexual assault, regardless of intelligence, sex or gender identity, race, ethnicity, or size; and prior consensual sexual relationships do not automatically constitute consent. Considering the prevalence of substance-related sexual assault, it is also important to remember that, under Connecticut law, a person inebriated by drugs or alcohol is not legally capable of consenting to sexual contact.

I do not want to frighten you, but I do want to empower you to join our efforts in preventing sexual assault at Trinity.  This past year, PEACH (Peer Educators Advocating Campus Health) and SART (Sexual Assault Response Team) sponsored a movement on campus called the Pledge for Action. Over 1,000 students have already signed the Pledge, which means that they pledge to work to prevent sexual assault, to support victims, and to ask for consent before sexual contact. We want to make Trinity College a safer environment by being open about the issue, by encouraging victims to report incidents, and by holding perpetrators responsible for their actions.

You can also exercise common sense to prevent becoming the victim of a sexual assault, especially should you choose to consume alcohol. The advice that I can offer is no different than what your parents have undoubtedly told you your entire life: don’t take opened drinks from people at parties (most rapes occur by acquaintances, so only accept unopened drinks, even if you recognize the person), don’t leave your drink unattended, and work the buddy system-pick a friend that you intend to stay with all night long and watch out for each other. If you decide to go off somewhere else, make sure to tell someone reliable where you’re going and when you’ll be back, and keep your cell phone on you. Having said all of that, the only person at fault for a sexual assault is the one who does not receive consent, so please don’t guilt yourself out of reporting an assault because you feel that you “had it coming”. Men are the statistical majority of perpetrators in sexual assaults, and as such, hold a lot of power in helping to stop sexual assaults. Guys, be man enough to reject the misogynist elements of our culture that promote sexual degradation and abuse of women (for example, look up the lyrics to Crank Dat Soulja Boy), talk to your friends about what it would be like to either be the victim of rape, or to viewed as a potential rapist, and always ask for consent.

Trinity has a wealth of resources devoted not only to supporting victims of sexual assault, but to preventing its occurrence. Trinity also has a policy of treating the victim of an assault first, so all reports are confidential and you are in control of what action, if any, you want to take against your perpetrator. If you would like to talk to anyone, you can contact either Laura Lockwood (Director of the Women & Gender Resource Action Center), or Martha Burke O’Brien (Director of the Health Center). Laura and Martha are both incredibly approachable and knowledgeable people. You can also contact any member of SART (www. trincoll.edu/StudentLife/HealthSafety/CampusSafety/SART) or the Student Government Association Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Committee.

College is a very exciting time, so go out and have fun-but stay safe, and please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about anything. I can’t wait to see all of your new faces on campus in the fall!

Sincerely,

Andrea Wise ‘11
Chair, SGA Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Committee