Students Preventing Sexual Violence (SPSV), an organization on campus that promotes awareness of issues of sexual violence, held a panel to offer advice for supporting survivors of sexual assault. There was an introduction and overview from the organization members, followed by presentations from other organizations with experience in addressing sexual violence.

Elena Andersen and Brynna Morgan, who worked with Dr. Kristin Mapel Bloomberg on the Campus Climate Survey, spoke about triggers. They defined triggers as anything that can make a survivor remember the moment of original trauma.

They went on to give advice to people who want to help someone who is triggered.

“Ask about triggers while the person is in a good place,” Andersen said. She explained that it’s easier to have a productive discussion before or after someone is triggered, when they are comfortable enough to talk about things.

In a Making Waves performance, actors showed examples of how people might react after hearing that someone close to them is a survivor. There was a discussion during and after the performance in which Laura Manhill, a Hamline alumna and co-director of Making Waves, emphasized the importance of listening to survivors and affirming their feelings.

Caroline Levy, the other co-director, said, “It’s not like you have to have hours and hours of training to be a compassionate listener.”

The actors added that, in the scenarios exploring ignorant or hurtful reactions, it was about a lack of understanding rather than malicious intent. The examples suggested that not knowing what to say is fine in that situation, but it’s better to be honest than to guess what the right reaction should be.

The event concluded with a circle discussion regarding counseling, services, and ideas that could help to support survivors. Panelists and guests asked questions that were answered by Olivia Haidos of Sexual Offense Services and Jenny Roper of Hamline Counseling and Health services.

The two talked about subjects that ranged from sex trafficking to first response after sexual violence. Haidos said that the first priority when supporting someone should be to make sure that they are physically safe, and then to provide them with mental or emotional help.

Haidos offered an example of SOS’s services, saying that the crisis line is 24/7, free and confidential.

“A person can call,” she said, “and just say ‘I need help with housing’. They don’t have to disclose [their exact circumstances].” The point, she explained, is to offer what the survivor needs in their situation.

Roper agreed with this sentiment, adding that “[service workers from SOS] have their priorities. The first priority is to help with emotional healing.” Things like medical attention would come next, she said, and other services after that.

Roper also said that it is important that people “don’t make assumptions about what happened based on a person’s presentation.” Trauma affects everyone differently, she explained, and the responses can range from being upset to acting the same as usual or blowing things off. It’s important to believe someone in that situation.

Haidos said that support for a survivor ultimately comes down to power.

“It’s about giving power back to the person who’s just had it taken away from them,” she said.

Her supervisor once told her “give yourself a little bit of power, but not too much.” She told the group that she took it as advice to offer what help is possible, but to ultimately let the survivor make the decisions.

Roper put it this way: “Take a survivor-centered approach. What do they need? What do they want?” She also said that context is very important. Help that a survivor might want or need “is very individual to a specific person,” she said, and also differs depending on the situation the person is in.

“Sometimes something that really helps someone one day is no good the next,” Roper said. Her idea of the survivor-centered approach means letting the survivor take the lead on what is helpful.

“In the moment [when a survivor discloses],” Roper said, “It’s mostly about your stance. If you’re open and caring, they will respond to that.”

Her advice for supporting a survivor in that situation is to thank them for showing that trust.

“It’s hard to be open,” Roper said, “and you should let them know that you’re thankful.”

She added that, “Silence is okay. It’s alright not to be sure what to say,.” said Roper.

The discussion ended with talk about self-care, both for survivors and those close to them.

“It’s important to take care of yourself,” Roper said. “Both to stay healthy and to help support those close to you.”