Madeline Shaw
For The Maine Campus
The University Volunteer Ambulance Corps (UVAC) will park their ambulance on the University Mall each day this week from approximately 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. to sell t-shirts for $10. Proceeds will go to Rape Response Services and the Spruce Run foundation to assist sexual assault victims and their families with services such as psychiatric treatment and safe houses.
“The biggest stigma [with sexual assault] is that no ones wants to admit it happened,” said UVAC’s Assistant Chief of Logistics Scott Cryer. “UVAC just wants to get it out there that it is an issue, and we’re here to help.” With every t-shirt purchase, UVAC will provide informational brochures that explain what constitutes sexual assault or relationship violence. The brochure will also include the appropriate contact information for reporting sexual assault.
“My door is always open for students, even if you have a friend who was sexual assaulted,” said Deputy Title IX Coordinator from the Office of Sexual Assault and Violence Elizabeth Lavoie.
In the spring of 2013, UMaine formed the Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence Protection (SARVP) committee, which assists in identifying campus needs for preventing sexual assault. SARVP’s members include UMaine faculty, staff and students, as well four off-campus organizations.
All universities are required by the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1998, better known as the Clery Act, to have all crimes be submitted to their website. This upcoming October statistics will be available regarding sexual assaults from 2013.
Both Cryer and Lavoie predict that the reports of sexual assault will increase from 2012, where there were six sexual offenses reported to UMPD. Lavoie does not necessarily believe that there will be more cases of sexual assault, but rather more reports because students will know their resources better.
“A lot of people think it’s their fault when they’ve been sexually assaulted. But it’s not, and by having more people to turn to to talk to, the safer our community will be,” Lavoie said. UVAC hopes that this pilot campaign, Don’t Be Afraid To Talk, will be a success. If it is, they plan to launch a larger campaign in April for Sexual Assault Awareness month.