Sexual Abuse Peer Advisors serve as a campus resource to those students who have been confronted with issues of sexual abuse. These students could be survivors of abuse themselves (either recently or in the past), or be secondary survivors (UGAs, friends, family, or partners). A SAPA provides support, referrals, and advocacy.
SAPA is a peer advising group sponsored by Dartmouth College's Health Resources Department (in Dick's House). The Sexual Abuse Awareness Program Coordinator serves as the advisor.
The philosophy of the SAPA program is based upon the following Shared Beliefs and Values:
Each SAPA has completed 22-24 hours of training, typically broken down into two-hour sessions. SAPA training is offered during Winter and Spring terms. This training is designed to give SAPAs the knowledge and ability to learn all the information necessary to be a good resource to survivors of sexual abuse. The content of the training includes crisis intervention training, medical issues, intimate partner violence, police procedures and medical evidence collection, understanding the COS (Committee on Standards), personal safety, and other issues.
The SAPA trainings for 2009-2010 school year are planned for Winter Term 2010 and Spring Term 2010. If you are interested in participating in our training, download an application (Word doc 26.5KB), which is now available for Winter Term 2010. Please submit all completed applications for Winter 2010 to the SAPA blitz account by November 23, 2009. Commitment to all sessions is mandatory!
Part of the role as a resource to students here at Dartmouth, a SAPA will also participate in a variety of programming, both large and small scale. Through participation at different programs, SAPAs will provide support to students that have been affected by sexual violence, support fellow peer advisors who are also raising awareness, and lastly, to continue their own education around sexual abuse and other related issues.
A few examples of programs that SAPAs are involved with are:
Consent Day, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Sex Festival, V-Day/Vagina Monologues, Speak Out, and Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Upcoming Programming:
1)Shouting, Name-Calling, Isolation, Jealousy, Pushing? **HOW IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP** Lets Talk About Relationship Abuse!
Who: All Dartmouth College students
What: Just Between Us: Talking About Unhealthy Relationships
When/Where: 4-5pm on Wednesday October 21st in Tindle Lounge
Why: It is important to break the silence around violence and learn how to have supportive conversations with friends. Get information on Dartmouth & Upper Valley Resources that support victims of relationship abuse. Participate in an informative dialogue with SAPAs, MAVs, and other students. Bring a friend. Meet new friends. Why not?
Questions? Want to get involved? Blitz the SAAP Coordinator Michelle de Sousa (aka: Meesh) in Health Resources/Center for Women & Gender or Blitz SAPA to talk to the SAAP Intern Zoe Shtasel-Gottlieb.
2) Rhianna & Chris: We all heard about it. Some of us saw the pictures. Months later...Are we "over it?" Join the Black Women's Forum to discuss what happens when we see it? What happens when we don't? What happens after it's "over?"
Who: All Dartmouth College students
When/Where: 8pm on Thursday October 15 at the Center for Women & Gender (6 Choate Road)
To find out who our current SAPAs are, go to the “SAPA” Blitz Bulletin which includes a short biography about each active SAPA and their contact information. Please feel free to call, Blitz, or visit whichever SAPA you feel most comfortable speaking with or Blitz SAPA with any inquiry. We are happy to talk with you!
