Building a culture of sexual violence prevention

JANUARY 27, 2023

UChicago students and staff offer resources to help prevent sexual misconduct

At the University of Chicago, there are many people and resources dedicated to sexual violence prevention. 

The Resources for Sexual Violence Prevention (RSVP) Programming Center has been one of those tools for the past 25 years. It offers staff and student-led activities on campus ranging from conversations on consent and community awareness to year-round bystander training for members of the University. 

“The wider changes we need to end these forms of violence start by making what impact we can in the communities closest to us,” said second-year Paxson Swierc, a student coordinator with RSVP. “Through RSVP, peer educators help make UChicago a safer place for everyone.” 

As a peer coordinator with RSVP, Swierc works with organizations around campus to provide peer-to-peer education and share RSVP resources.

In 2021, RSVP launched new consent and bystander intervention workshops with Housing, since speaking about consent and violence prevention with a friend or someone of the same age often makes the information more engaging and memorable. 

“I am proud of the work we’ve done, providing this information in an engaging and accessible form,” Swierc said. “We are planning to expand the project throughout the year."

RSVP works within the Center for Awareness, Resolution, Education, and Support (UChicago CARES) to develop its workshops, taking into account factors such as accessibility, cultural customs, and inclusion to welcome people of any sexual orientation or gender identity.

UChicago CARES staff members coordinate an annual training that all students, staff, and faculty must complete to better understand their roles in promoting safety and preventing sexual misconduct.

“The training is an opportunity to expose the broader University community to our expectations and raise awareness of how to receive help if you’ve been harmed,” said Renae DeSautel, director of Response & Support Services, UChicago CARES and deputy Title IX coordinator for students. “When someone joins the UChicago community, we hope that this training forms a basis for a shared understanding of our expectations for behavior and the resources available to address inappropriate conduct and support individuals who have been impacted.”

The UChicago CARES team also runs in-depth workshops and orientation sessions for specific groups, ranging from study abroad programs to researchers on remote field studies. Any University group can request these sessions.

“Our Center is unique in that we are charged in leading efforts in both preventing misconduct as well as addressing harassment and discrimination when it does occur,” DeSautel said. “We lead with our prevention efforts, but we also work with those who have been harmed to offer resolution options and hold individuals accountable for their behavior. Being involved at all parts of this process offers our Center the opportunity to provide a holistic approach in creating a safer campus community.”