Power in Numbers-Talking about big things by blogger Saint Louis University Abigail

Last semester, the Greek community at my university required all members to attend a sexual assault awareness presentation. So, we all go… It’s a skit. The skit started off well, portraying interactions between two individuals and ended with a question: Is what you saw sexual assault? This is when everything went wrong. Confusion, victim shaming and little clarification made this presentation unsuccessful. I left feeling angered, but what followed was valuable. Many chapters expressed their disappointment with the presentation and every chapter had a follow-up discussion with a mediator, which was one of the most beneficial and honest conversations I have ever had. The Greek sexual assault presentation at my university, though initially ineffective, sparked a campus-wide conversation about sexual assault. Members and students alike were reminded of the significance of looking out for and supporting each other.



While Greek life and other organizations often get a bad reputation, the reality of these organizations is that they are built on community. Values including responsibility, loyalty, and trust are ones Greek chapters and other campus organizations hold dear, and ought to be what they stress in order to ensure the entire community feels safe. These organizations also have power in numbers. With that power and through these values, organizations have the opportunity to facilitate open discussions about the hard stuff, including sexual assault. Open discussions will lead to education about what sexual assault looks like, encouragement to pay closer attention to their surroundings, and ultimately, prevent more sexual assaults from occurring.