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When I started teaching, I took as workshop on how to effectively handle student disclosures of sexual violence.
The facilitators laid it out plainly. You are not a judge or jury. You have no right to pass judgement/determine validity.
Your response should always be belief.
The facilitators laid it out plainly. You are not a judge or jury. You have no right to pass judgement/determine validity.
Your response should always be belief.
They taught us an acronym because receiving a disclosure can often be sudden and many react on instinct.
They taught us to make our instinct belief.
If your first response to a disclosure is NOT belief, I urge you to examine why and grow.
They taught us to make our instinct belief.
If your first response to a disclosure is NOT belief, I urge you to examine why and grow.
This was an optional workshop in my program, but if you have Teaching Assistants or even senior student leaders that you think would benefit, please pass on this link from University Affairs: https://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/career-advice-article/how-to-respond-to-disclosures-of-sexual-violence/
There are better voices than mine in Classics Twitter to amplify on what is going on.
Still, I URGE you not to let this reckoning exist only online. Most departments are completely unprepared to handle disclosures of sexual violence. Their instincts will perpetrate violence.
Still, I URGE you not to let this reckoning exist only online. Most departments are completely unprepared to handle disclosures of sexual violence. Their instincts will perpetrate violence.
Complicity will continue to shelter the most privileged.
If you're in a position to critically examine how the systems you are a part of contribute to violence, please do so.
If you're in a position to critically examine how the systems you are a part of contribute to violence, please do so.
Have the discussion with your department. Ask: Do I know the university's policies on sexual violence? Does my department have a code of conduct? Are my professors trained in responding to disclosures? Does my department have policies and procedures that support students?
Anyways. That is to say... Don't be a dick. Believe people.
