SAPR: Here to Help!

CW: sexual assault, Kavanaugh hearings

At student-organized school events that involve loud music, enthusiastic atmospheres, or potential substance use, there are always friendly, sober, supportive folks in shiny yellow T-shirts patrolling the area to make sure everyone is safe and enjoying themselves. Those students work for Reed’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) program to help ensure student safety. SAPR stewards hand out gum and candies for folks who need them to stay sober, “please don’t kiss me” buttons to folks who prefer not to be kissed by others, reach out to folks who seem drunk or unconscious by offering support and, if needed, calling Community Safety staff to offer further help.

In the wake of the hearings and confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, being aware of SAPR’s role on campus and the resources it provides is especially important right now. SAPR’s ongoing efforts cannot be sustained without the stewards, advocates, and the Assistant Dean Rowan Frost. Stewards are those friendly patrollers at campus events, and they offer help on site. Advocates are highly trained students who provide confidential services for survivors of sexual harassment, sexual assault, relationship abuse, and stalking by helping set up connections to medical care, counseling, and other resources, providing reporting assistance, and offering emotional support for survivors, as well as many other services that survivors need. Rowan Frost is responsible for employee training and also offering support and help to survivors.

Community Safety and Title IX Coordinator Mike Brody is also part of SAPR services on campus. Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972 aims to protect individuals from gender discrimination in educational programs and activities at institutions that receive federal financial assistance. Reed’s Discriminatory Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy exists to comply with Title IX requirements. The policy prohibits all forms of sexual harassment and encourages reporting those behaviors. Community Safety primarily handles emergency responses and reports of sexual misconduct, investigates potential Title IX violations, and so on. CSOs are often available to take care of everyone’s safety and well-being. They respond promptly to address the concerns students or SAPR stewards and advocates make to them and therefore are very approachable. Vice President Mike Brody also takes all reports of potential Title IX violations and supervises investigations.  

With its strict policy execution and friendly support from SAPR employees, Community Safety Officers, and other campus resources, Reed is committed to maintaining a friendly, healthy community culture that does not tolerate any form of sexual violence and harassment. Always remember that you are loved! If you are affected by sexual harassment, assault, exploitation, relationship abuse, or stalking, you can call Reed’s Sexual Assault Prevention & Response line at (503) 847-9772, or email a SAPR advocate at sapradvocates@reed.edu.