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When sexual assault counselling in US colleges is not confidential When sexual assault counselling in US colleges is not confidential
(35 minutes later)
"Hi, I am a student peer health adviser who has been trained to work with victims of sexual assault. I am here to listen to your story, as your advocate, and let you know that you are not alone. You can trust me.
"Hi, I am a student peer health adviser who has been trained to work with victims of sexual assault. I am here to listen to your story, as your advocate, and let you know that you are not alone. You can trust me.
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/>Just one small technicality to note before we get started. If asked in court, I will have to repeat every word of this conversation. Your parents, your professors, your siblings, your teammates, your future employer, your roommate, your rapist will know what you say here. I hope we have a good talk."
Just one small technicality to note before we get started. If asked in court, I will have to repeat every word of this conversation. Your parents, your professors, your siblings, your teammates, your future employer, your roommate, your rapist will know what you say here. I hope we have a good talk." This introduction is probably not exactly how sexual assault consultations go down at Princeton University. But add the odd "I'm so sorry" and "This must be so hard for you", and you've got a fairly accurate transcript of the typical conversation. At the majority of US universities, when a student goes to see a peer sexual assault counsellor, she'll get sympathy, she'll get respect, but she'll also get a clear message: nothing that we say here today is guaranteed to be confidential.
This introduction is probably not exactly how sexual assault consultations go down at Princeton University. But add a few "I'm so sorry's" and "This must be so hard for you's", and you've got a fairly accurate transcript of the typical conversation. At the majority of US universities, when a student goes to see a peer sexual assault counsellor, she'll get sympathy, she'll get respect, but she'll also get a clear message: nothing that we say here today is guaranteed to be confidential.
By now, a lot of universities have some kind of peer-to-peer sexual assault counselling programme. And so they should. Peer counselling programmes offer the comfort of shared experience – counsellors who understand the social pressures of student life at the university. But while well intentioned, the vast majority of these programmes are not supported well enough to become what they need to be: confidential sources of advice and encouragement. Without a certain level of training, an advocate does not have what's called legal privilege: he or she can be forced to relay all information in a courtroom. In order to guarantee confidentiality at the beginning of a discussion, a peer health adviser needs to have undergone extensive training by a federally recognised organisation.By now, a lot of universities have some kind of peer-to-peer sexual assault counselling programme. And so they should. Peer counselling programmes offer the comfort of shared experience – counsellors who understand the social pressures of student life at the university. But while well intentioned, the vast majority of these programmes are not supported well enough to become what they need to be: confidential sources of advice and encouragement. Without a certain level of training, an advocate does not have what's called legal privilege: he or she can be forced to relay all information in a courtroom. In order to guarantee confidentiality at the beginning of a discussion, a peer health adviser needs to have undergone extensive training by a federally recognised organisation.
I am a member of the sexual assault response team at WomanSpace, a sexual assault and domestic violence nonprofit in New Jersey. Last semester, I completed 90 hours of training. When it was over, I understood the steps for getting a restraining order, the specific effects of all kinds of drugs and alcohol, and the myriad of emotions someone might be feeling in the weeks after an assault. That training gave me legal privilege. Unless a victim talks about harming herself, harming others, or reports child abuse, everything we discuss stays between us. I am a member of the sexual assault response team at WomanSpace, a sexual assault and domestic violence nonprofit organisation in New Jersey. Last semester, I completed 90 hours of training. When it was over, I understood the steps for getting a restraining order, the specific effects of all kinds of drugs and alcohol and the myriad of emotions someone might be feeling in the weeks after an assault. That training gave me legal privilege. Unless a victim talks about harming herself, harming others or reports child abuse, everything we discuss stays between us.
At Princeton University, where I am a junior, victims of sexual assault are encouraged to seek support from a Share (Sexual harassment/assault advising, resources, and education) peer adviser. These undergraduate advocates complete 24 hours of training annually. They know what options are available to students and they give excellent referrals, but that's it. The Share peer adviser's involvement ends there.At Princeton University, where I am a junior, victims of sexual assault are encouraged to seek support from a Share (Sexual harassment/assault advising, resources, and education) peer adviser. These undergraduate advocates complete 24 hours of training annually. They know what options are available to students and they give excellent referrals, but that's it. The Share peer adviser's involvement ends there.
So why is this a big deal? After all, Princeton, along with most universities in the US, employs professional counsellors to talk to student victims of sexual assault. These professional counsellors have privilege, so everything said to them stays confidential.So why is this a big deal? After all, Princeton, along with most universities in the US, employs professional counsellors to talk to student victims of sexual assault. These professional counsellors have privilege, so everything said to them stays confidential.
The problem is this: college women are prone to wonder whether their experience with sexual assault was real or warranted. They'll ask questions like, was my skirt too short? Did I drink too much? Was I asking for it? Chances are, they won't want to ask these questions to an adult. They'll want to talk to their friends, or at least someone their own age.The problem is this: college women are prone to wonder whether their experience with sexual assault was real or warranted. They'll ask questions like, was my skirt too short? Did I drink too much? Was I asking for it? Chances are, they won't want to ask these questions to an adult. They'll want to talk to their friends, or at least someone their own age.
Without college-sanctioned programmes that fulfill the requirements for legal privilege, these peer advocates cannot promise confidentiality. And without that promise, victims are much less likely to want to share those most vulnerable moments. They end up feeling alone, ashamed, and guilty. But students should not have to choose between empathy – knowing that their counsellor understands and can sympathise with the context in which their assault took place – and confidentiality. Without college-sanctioned programmes that fulfill the requirements for legal privilege, these peer advocates cannot promise confidentiality. And without that promise, victims are much less likely to want to share those most vulnerable moments. They end up feeling alone, ashamed and guilty. But students should not have to choose between empathy – knowing that their counsellor understands and can sympathise with the context in which their assault took place – and confidentiality.
At Rutgers University, sexual assault response teams offer both. Members from all branches of the university community – faculty, administrators and, most importantly, students – participate in 50 hours of state-approved training. That state-approved training gives these advisors legal privilege, and the power to promise your story will remain confidential. "As an advocate, confidentiality is the most important thing that you can offer to a survivor," said Laura Luciano, assistant director of violence prevention and victim assistance at Rutgers. "There are so many dangerous legal ramifications when a victim talks to someone without privilege." At Rutgers University, sexual assault response teams offer both. Members from all branches of the university community – faculty, administrators and, most importantly, students – participate in 50 hours of state-approved training. That state-approved training gives these advisers legal privilege, and the power to promise your story will remain confidential. "As an advocate, confidentiality is the most important thing that you can offer to a survivor," said Laura Luciano, assistant director of violence prevention and victim assistance at Rutgers. "There are so many dangerous legal ramifications when a victim talks to someone without privilege."
Here's what's scary: Rutgers is one of the only programmes of its kind in the US. Most schools have no peer resources at all for victims of sexual assault, and the vast majority of the schools that do, don't offer programmes that are state-certified to train rape crisis counsellors. To become state-certified, programmes need to require a certain number of training hours (this varies from state to state) and use a government-approved curriculum. To cut a long story short: programmes like the one at Rutgers require more university staff, and more university money.Here's what's scary: Rutgers is one of the only programmes of its kind in the US. Most schools have no peer resources at all for victims of sexual assault, and the vast majority of the schools that do, don't offer programmes that are state-certified to train rape crisis counsellors. To become state-certified, programmes need to require a certain number of training hours (this varies from state to state) and use a government-approved curriculum. To cut a long story short: programmes like the one at Rutgers require more university staff, and more university money.
For most people who have experienced it, a sexual assault is the most vulnerable moment of their lives. When they are feeling that thoroughly shaken, they are going to be scared to talk. People might judge, criticise, or – worst of all – people might not believe them. That's why universities need to give victims easy access to the people that they will be most likely to trust: trained peers who can promise confidentiality. For most people who have experienced it, a sexual assault is the most vulnerable moment of their lives. When they are feeling that thoroughly shaken, they are going to be scared to talk. People might judge or criticise or – worst of all – might not believe them. That's why universities need to give victims easy access to the people that they will be most likely to trust: trained peers who can promise confidentiality.