Peer Recruitment

Its that time of year again: Peer Recruitment!!!

We have three levels of peers:

Advocate:
-this is for Graduate students and faculty/staff.
-Highly trained to provide crisis intervention and accompaniment through medical and police proceedings as necessary in the absence of the Sexual Assault Services Coordinator.
-Carry the GMU SAS 24-hour cell phone when the SAS Coordinator is away from GMU.
-Provide crisis intervention, hospital and police accompaniment and encouraging victims/survivors to maintain safe behavior and/or modify current unsafe behavior.

Educator:
-this is for Undergraduate and graduate students
-Receive intensive training on issues surrounding sexual assault and facilitation skills
-Take their knowledge into classrooms, dormitories and community agencies.
-Maintain a nonjudgmental approach as they encourage individuals and groups to think and talk about the issues around sexual assault and dating violence that impact young adults.
-Facilitate interactive sessions in the resident halls, University 100 classes, club and organizational meetings, and in academic classrooms on topics related to sexual assault .

Companion:
-this is for Undergraduate and graduate students
-Work closely with the Sexual Assault Services Coordinator and serve as an adjunct to professional work of the office.
-Help increase the victim/survivor’s effectiveness in coping with the aftermath of an assault by providing a confidential format to explore feelings of isolation.
-Matched with victims/survivors and then supervised closely by SAS staff. Based on availability, age and similarity with the victim/survivor, and other attributes, such as educational level, which have a high probability of rapport-development. Available to link with the victim/survivor in person, on the telephone, or by email; supply information and referrals; and accompany the victim/survivor to any incident-related appointments.
-Valuable resource for victims/survivors who may want to talk about reactions and emotions following an assault.

If you would like to fill out an application, please visit the GMU SAS website at: http://sexualassaultservices.gmu.edu/GetInvolved.htm
to download an application.

Mason Holds Day of Remembrance for Virginia Tech Victims

From the GMU webpage today:

To commemorate the lives lost on the Virginia Tech campus a year ago, and to acknowledge violence at other universities and colleges throughout the past year, Mason will hold a series of events on Wednesday, April 16. 

The events will seek to unite the Mason community while providing a safe venue in which to discourage violence. 

Student Government members and student leaders will remember the moment –when the first shots were heard at 7:15 a.m. on April 16, 2007– by placing white ribbons around the trees throughout the North Plaza and Student Union Building I areas. 

At noon, university administrators, students, faculty and staff are invited to the Johnson Center to hear commemorative speeches by Mason President Alan Merten and Student Body President Drew Shelnutt. 

The speeches will be followed by a moment of silence and a performance by Laura Mays, a Mason student who wrote a song about the tragedy. 

A kiosk will also be set up in the Johnson Center for members of the Mason community to pick up a ribbon or make their own. Staff from Sexual Assault Services and Counseling and Psychological Services will be available to offer support to anyone who needs it. A banner promoting nonviolence will be on display for the Mason community to sign. 

At 7:30 p.m., a vigil and night of reflection for the university and surrounding community will be held on the North Plaza. The Student Activities Office will provide candles, and the reflection will be facilitated by a Mason student or staff member. 

In addition, Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine has ordered the state flag be lowered to half-staff for the day and has called for a moment of silence, followed by a tolling of bells statewide, in memory of those killed last year. 

For more information about the commemorative events, e-mail Student Body Vice President Ijeoma Nwatu at sbvp@gmu.edu.

Reminders

Victim's Rights week kicks off this weekend!

GMU will be honoring the Virginia Tech massacre victims with two special ceremonies: one at 7 a.m. on April 16, 2008 and the other at 7 p.m. on the same day. Both will occur in the JC plaza near the statue.

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