The 11 reasons we need more than Haven Plus to stop sexual assault
People were discussing how to skip through it quickly
The week after the entire of UIUC had to complete Haven Plus, the online sexual assault prevention training scheme, the University Police Department announced they’re investigating three sexual assaults on students, and most likely, by students.
We have a problem, and it’s not one that can’t be ignored. Haven Plus was a step in the right direction, but it was token. For the targets of sexual assault this week, it didn’t work. There are eleven more reasons why we need more than Haven Plus:
- February 7th
- April 9th
- April 9th, again
- April 17th
- July 12th
- July 13th
- July 13th, again
- July 15th
- August 17th
- August 19th
- All of the unreported assaults and abuse
These are the dates of every time we’ve received a message about a sexual assault on campus in the last year.
Photo: Mitch Altman/Flickr
It almost became habit last to wake up to an email informing us of another incident. Another life changed for the worse.
I’d like to have faith in the fact that people took the course seriously. But there are some people who breezed through it and didn’t stop to think about what would happen if they were placed in a situation where you are violated.
No one is watching you take this course. No one is telling you exactly what is meant by the jargon. No one is there to answer your questions. No one can have a discussion with you, and explain what you don’t understand.
The course is taken in the safety of your own dorm room. In a space where people can hide, illuminated by the light of their screen. In a space where sexual assault is pushed further into the darkness, instead of being spoken about openly. It’s more so than ever, something we only discuss in our own heads.
The message will not get across for some unless it is blunt and strong. This topic requires discussion, not sitting behind a computer screen.
More has to be done towards an issue that isn’t only affecting the University of Illinois, but the entire country.
I don’t have the answers, and I don’t envy those who have to make the decisions. It’s not easy. But the events of last week show we need more than Haven Plus. We need tangible change.