Bellarmine uses the Red Flag Campaign and Purple Thursday to create sexual assault awareness
By Ella Gordon
A recent sexual assault case at Cornell University has sparked national conversation on college campus safety and Title IX. During the month of October, Bellarmine is using the Red Flag Campaign and Purple Thursday to promote bystander intervention and support survivors.
A former Cornell University student is suing the institution as well as seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity whom she alleges sexually assaulted her.
“The media attention has got college students nationwide talking about Title IX more,” Bellarmines Title IX coordinator Desiree Isaac said.
“When we think about sexual violence, a lot of college students, I don’t know if it’s fortunately or unfortunately, don’t know what Title IX is.” Isaac said. “Maybe fortunately because they've never found themselves in that situation, but also unfortunately because you do need to know what to do if you do find yourself in that situation, and you do need to know how to report, and you do need to know how to support your friends.”
Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any educational institutions that receive federal funding. Title IX requires these institutions to address and take steps to prevent cases of sexual assault and harassment on their campuses.
Bellarmine senior and peer mental health advocate Leona Linville said conversations about the Cornell case have taken place on Bellarmine’s campus.
“I have been a part of multiple conversations on campus about the Cornell sexual assault case, and I am very pleased to say that everyone I have conversated with recognizes the severity of what happened and the importance of holding everyone responsible accountable,” Linville said. “I appreciate that we can all recognize that these issues exist outside of just Cornell University, and that this is unfortunately all too common in nearly every single country in the world.”
Linville said Bellarmine’s greatest asset in educating and supporting students on sexual assault awareness is its staff members.
“I think our biggest strength is having people who actually care about our students' well-being and safety in positions like the dean of students and Title IX officer… It's great that we have such a lovely team of women who can really connect with students who are victims of sexual violence, domestic abuse, or toxic relationships and offer them support catered to their specific situation, goals, and needs,” Linville said.
Bellarmine is promoting the Red Flag Campaign on campus and through social media to educate students on safety and how to identify unhealthy behaviors in relationships.
In addition to the campaign, Bellarmine is showing support for survivors of domestic violence during October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
“The Red Flag Campaign is a nationally recognized campaign that is really to encourage bystander intervention and to help students identify relationship red flags, dating violence red flags, and how to intervene when you see those,” Isaac said.
The Swope Counseling Center is also participating in the campaign and is dedicated to sexual assault awareness and prevention.
“The Red Flag Campaign really speaks to awareness and education on hey let’s learn what those red flags are in relationships broadly, friendships and dating relationships so that way we know where we can call people out and into conversation and be that active bystander,” Swope Counseling Center director Marlana Bragg said. “We want to show hey here are the unhealthy behaviors and as we go through the Red Flag Campaign, we will talk about healthy relationship behaviors.”
There are Red Flag posters around campus as well as small red flags around the quad to help educate students on being active bystanders and how to recognize unhealthy behaviors in relationships.
Linville said participating in campaigns like the Red Flag Campaign helps create a safe campus environment for students.
“Engaging in campaigns like these are essential because they help spread awareness and create a safe space where conversations surrounding abuse can happen in a way that can help create a safer campus and build trust with those who can offer support.”
Students might see Bellarmine community members wearing purple ribbons on their clothing to show support for survivors of domestic violence.
Bragg said the counseling center wants to create a safe space for survivors and be a part of the prevention effort as well.
“We want to be a part of that prevention effort too because we know that while college campuses can be a time of wonderful growth and exploration, it can also be a time where somebody could experience domestic violence, which is why we wear the purple ribbon, or dating violence, or sexual assault,” Bragg said. “We want to show support to all of our survivors and folks who are allies of survivors so that way we can create a campus community where people feel safe,”
Purple Thursday is Oct. 15, and students are encouraged to join the staff in wearing purple in support of domestic abuse survivors. Students can wear purple clothing or get a purple ribbon from the Title IX office located at Centro, McGowan 280.
If students wear purple and tag @BUdeanofstudents on Instagram, they will receive a prize from the Title IX office.
“We are really just trying to raise awareness about what's appropriate behavior, what's not appropriate behavior and make people feel more comfortable calling out this bad behavior,” Isaac said.
There is no wrong way for students to report an incident or get support.
“I would tell any student seeking support on campus either through the counseling center or the Title IX office that it's okay to be scared, and that bravery actually feels like fear,” Linville said. “Change and support happens at a pace that they set and are comfortable with, and that they don’t have to do anything they aren’t fully ready for yet.”
For more information contact:
Dean of Students Dr. Leslie Maxie: (502) 272-7150 | lmaxie@bellarmine.edu
Title IX Coordinator Desiree Isaac: (502) 272- 7337 | disaac@bellarmine.edu
Office of Health Services: (502) 272-8048 | healthservices@bellarmine.edu
Swope Counseling Center: (502) 272-8480 | counselingcenter@bellarmine.edu