The Start by Believing campaign for sexual assault awareness is March 6

Most victims of sexual assault never report the crime to law enforcement, often because of the responses they receive from friends and family members.

The Start by Believing campaign is designed to change this. By preparing both professionals and loved ones to respond appropriately to sexual assault disclosures, we help to improve outcomes for victims-one reaction at a time.

Ohio University’s Survivor Advocacy Program (along with our student organization) is working with the Ohio University Police Department to launch a Start by Believing Campaign as part of this national movement in hopes to improve responses that survivors receive when disclosing an assault.

As part of the launch, on Tuesday, March 6 from 5 to 7 p.m. in Baker University Center Ballroom, survivors will share their stories of the impact they experienced when they disclosed their sexual assault and received poor responses as well as supportive responses.

An Ohio University student survivor will speak alongside Detective Austin of Ohio University’s Police Department about their experience working together to investigate the sexual assault perpetuated against the student. They will discuss how law enforcement can support survivors throughout an investigation and how this helps give power back to survivors.

Please consider attending this event to support survivors of interpersonal violence and learn how to empathically respond to someone when they disclose an assault to you. Students, faculty, staff and community members are welcome-survivors & allies. Ohio University’s Office of Equity and Civil Rights Compliance has granted a mandated reporting exemption for this event.