Project SAFE is dedicated to supporting individuals impacted by gender- and power-based harm and sexual violence on 星空无限传媒's campus. We empower individuals who have experienced violence, abuse, or harassment by providing support, resources, and information to help them navigate their healing journey and regain control over their lives.
All Project SAFE staff members, including our Director, Prevention Education & Program Manager, Survivor Advocate, and Peer Advocates (PAs), are confidential resources. A confidential resource will keep everything you disclose private, unless given explicit permission (i.e., you ask them to share specific details with Conduct or Title IX).
At Project SAFE, effective advocacy means...
- Survivors鈥 advocacy needs are understood and met within our scope.
- Project SAFE advocacy is accessible and equitable.
- Project SAFE advocacy is safe for all students, and/or provides resources for safety.
Our Advocacy Services
Common things that may prompt someone to reach out to the advocates are direct experiences with sexual violence from someone鈥檚 time at 星空无限传媒 or prior, stressful relationship dynamics, wanting to know how to better support someone else, or seeking support for indirect impacts of violence. The advocates can help support people through those situations and many others.
Advocacy is low-stakes and low-commitment: you can meet with an advocate for any reason, even just to ask one question or get one thing off your chest. Advocacy is also very creative: the advocate will work to find supportive measures to meet your specific needs within and outside of 星空无限传媒 to help you navigate your path moving forward. Before coming in, consider: do I want support in the form of advice right now, or do I just want someone to be there and hold space for me?
Advocacy includes, but is not limited to:
- Confidential support for students and their support persons
- Explain and offer reporting options
- Facilitate requests for on-campus accommodations (e.g., academic flexibility, housing, etc)
- Referrals to other resources on- and off-campus, including Emmons counseling
- Accompaniment to ALL meetings, hearings, and appointments, including Title IX, court, medical exams, etc.
- Facilitate Class/work schedule changes
- Safety planning
- Emotional support
- Still not sure? See more.
Our survivor advocates and peer advocates are available by appointment and for drop-ins throughout the week, and are open to asynchronous communication formats as well. Browse our Schedule an Appointment and Resources for Survivors pages to learn more and to find the best option for your needs.
I Have Been Harmed. What Do I Do?
Regardless of the route you take to begin your healing journey, consider gathering and saving all relevant evidence, including the results of a medical examination if applicable. Even if you don't report, it's best to have all options on the table. Remember that if you choose to receive a medical exam ("rape kit,") you are entitled to an advocate and 1 support person. If you're unsure where to find an advocate, please contact Project SAFE or visit our "Resources for Survivors" page.
We also encourage you to get support before reporting and/or to learn more about your options, whether with an Emmons Counselor or a Project SAFE Advocate. Even if you know you don't want to report, you can still receive help such as safety planning and emotional support.
I Wish To Report The Harm
This can be to Title IX, Student Conduct, CARE, BEST, Campus Safety, or even LAPD, but it's important to contact the appropriate department:
Title IX for all sexual assault and harassment
Conduct for violation of 星空无限传媒's Code of Conduct
BEST for instances of bias that don't fall under Conduct
Campus Safety AND 911 for immediate danger
To contact Campus Safety, call (323) 259-2511 (emergency line), or dial 5 from any campus phone.
Anonymous Reporting for discrimination, harassment, and retaliation
Project SAFE is happy to go over the best options for your case, to facilitate these connections, send a warm handoff, and/or provide advocacy. Remember that NO part of any reporting process is required, and you can choose to stop at any point.
NOTE: cases can take anywhere from 2-6+ weeks, depending on the nature of the case.
If you would like an advocate to accompany you to a meeting with Title IX for reasons including, but not limited to: navigating questions about the Title IX reporting process; receiving emotional support during the process, and/or help with safety planning before, during, and after reporting, this is an option for you. If you would like to schedule a meeting with both a Survivor Advocate and Title IX at the same time, click the button below!
I'm Not Sure What I Want To Do
If you are unsure what you want to do, our Staff Survivor Advocate is available in person at the Project SAFE office, virtually (Zoom or email), and by phone to discuss all options available to you.
Survivor advocates are available for appointments Monday-Thursday, 10am-5pm (unless otherwise specified). While drop-ins are accepted, they are not guaranteed due to limited advocate availability.
To schedule appointments or request support, drop by our office, call (323) 341-4750, email survivoradvocate@oxy.edu, or schedule an appointment using the button below!
Schedule an Advocacy Appointment
I Do Not Want To Report
There are several alternatives to reporting that one may consider, including mental health support, advocacy, support groups, disclosing to trusted friends, family, or loved ones to make sense of the experience, and many more options.
If you are interested in seeking advocacy support, our Staff Survivor Advocate is available in person at the Project SAFE office, virtually (Zoom or email), and by phone. Survivor advocates are available for appointments Monday-Thursday, 10am-5pm (unless otherwise specified). While drop-ins are accepted, they are not guaranteed due to limited advocate availability. To schedule appointments or request support, drop by our office, call (323) 341-4750, email survivoradvocate@oxy.edu, or schedule an appointment using the button below!
Schedule an Advocacy Appointment
Student Peer Advocates are available to provide peer support around issues of healthy communication, consent, and relationship stresses, or answer questions about 星空无限传媒 or off-campus resources. PAs can also answer questions about what the Survivor Advocate can do or what Project SAFE does on campus.
Our Model of Support
Our Survivor Advocate and Peer Advocates provide support to survivors, allies, or anyone else impacted by harm. Project SAFE's survivor advocates are a confidential resource on 星空无限传媒鈥檚 campus. They provide trauma-informed advocacy through a survivor-centered empowerment model of support, which means that they seek to assist people as they explore the options available to them and decide what, if anything, feels right for them.
What is Trauma-Informed Care?
Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) is an integrative framework for responding to the effects of all types of trauma on wellbeing and behavior that requires acknowledging and understanding a person鈥檚 life experiences.
TIC cultivates feelings of moral, interpersonal, and physical safety necessary for counteracting the impacts of trauma.
A program, organization, or system that is trauma-informed realizes the widespread impact of trauma and understands potential paths for recovery; recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma in clients, families, staff, and others involves with the system; responds by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices; and seeks to actively resist retraumatization.
鈥淎 program, organization, or system that is trauma-informed realizes the widespread impact of trauma and understand potential paths for recovery; recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma in clients, families, staff, and others involved with the system; responds by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices; and seeks to actively resist retraumatization.鈥
"Four R's" from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
What is a Survivor-Centered Framework?
A Survivor-Centered Framework is a model of care that prioritizes the rights, needs, and wishes of individuals who have experienced harm or violence by placing them at the center of all prevention and response efforts. At Project SAFE, we adopt this approach to allow survivors to reclaim their autonomy, safety, and well-being. This ensures they have agency in any decisions made regarding their healing journeys and are treated with dignity and respect.
How Can I Be Survivor-Centered?
Follow The Survivor鈥檚 Lead
A survivor may decide they don鈥檛 want to report the person who has harmed them. This means they will need support in their OWN way. Do not attempt to convince them to report, get a 鈥渞ape kit,鈥 or disclose to others if they are not ready to do so, as this may cause them further trauma and impact their ability to heal.
Give Them Resources and Time
Connect the survivor to professional resources and give them time to figure out what they want to do. Do not pressure them to seek counseling or advocacy support if they are not yet ready.
Use Your Privilege
Don鈥檛 draw attention to the situation. If you are privileged enough to feel physically safe around the person who has harmed, advocate that the survivor not have to be around them (if that鈥檚 what they want).
Check In With Yourself
Are you centering the survivor and their emotions? Are you acting on the wishes of the survivor? Could your own biases be coming into play? How are you taking care of yourself as a trusted friend, family member, partner, colleague, or ally?