All members of the University of Michigan community share a responsibility for upholding this policy as we strive to attain our goal of creating a violence-free community.
Survivors of sexual assault experience a wide range of reactions. Some have said that after the assault their emotions go up and down or from one extreme to another. It is important for you to know that what you are feeling and thinking right now is okay. Your reactions are your own way of coping with the crime that has been committed against you.
There is no standard response to sexual assault. You may experience a few, none, or all of the following:
The Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center (SAPAC) is committed to the belief that all people have the right to live free of violence and the fear of violence. We recognize that sexual assault, stalking, sexual harassment, and intimate partner violence (emotional, physical, and sexual) are not isolated incidents, but rather the individual behavioral expressions of a pervasive cultural attitude that tolerates violence. The common threads that bind these behaviors together are issues of power, control, and inequality.
Five SAPAC attendees put together their thoughts on the SAPAC blog, "The SAPAC Voice." The post is titled, "Thoughts on the National Young Feminist Leadership Conference."
On the weekend of April 13 and 14, SAPAC student volunteers and professional staff welcomed back to campus nearly fifty alumni and supporters for a weekend-long celebration of SAPAC’s 25th anniversary.Alumni gathered from Missouri, North Carolina, Georgia, Illinois, and all parts of Michigan to reconnect with each other and reflect on the lasting impact of their volunteer experience at SAPAC.
Coercion is a tactic used by perpetrators to intimidate, trick or force someone to have sex with him/her without physical force.This article explains coercion and gives examples of scenarios which involve coercion.
"Through my years at SAPAC, I met my best friends, had my assumptions about the world challenged, developed my understanding of society, found my voice, and became a leader."
A front page article in the University Record (link to the article below) recognized SAPAC's recent inclusion in a U.S. Department of Education publication which featured SAPAC's efforts to end violence on the University of Michigan campus.
The Record article highlights SAPAC events and collaborative efforts that occur throughout the year.
In addition, in 2004, SAPAC was awarded a Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women grant entitled, "Grants to Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking on Campus Program." This grant has enabled us to create the University of Michigan Violence Prevention Project whose goals are to develop, strengthen, and expand educational and crisis response initiatives on campus; improve outreach to underrepresented communities; strengthen and build upon trainings for students, faculty, and staff; and enhance our coordina
Stalking is defined as a willful course of conduct involving repeated or continuing harassment made against the expressed wishes of another individual, which causes that individual to feel emotional distress including fear, harassment, intimidation or apprehension.
The legal definition of stalking is defined primarily by state statutes. However, virtually any unwanted contact between a stalker and their victim which directly or indirectly communicates a threat or places the victim in fear can generally be referred to as stalking.
On November 16th, a special SAPAC benefit performance of "How I Learned to Drive" took place at the Ark .
SAPAC would like to give a special thanks to Kat Walsh, the director of "How I Learned to Drive," and to the Ann Arbor Civic Theater for the dedication and generosity they have shown for SAPAC in organizing and executing this successful event!
It is with support from the community that SAPAC is proud to celebrate 25 years of teaching, leading, and healing!
“I would say the main thing SAPAC has given me is confidence. In SAPAC I am surrounded by intelligent people whose dedication and compassion is inspiring. From other volunteers and professional staff, I feel more confident to stand up for what I believe in.”
"I met some of my best friends volunteering at SAPAC. I can't imagine a more empowering experience while in college and I don't know how I would have survived without this group. Not only was I able to focus my energies on a cause I believed in, but I had the opportunity to help others."
"I pledge to to participate with the SAPAC Men's Activism Program to raise awareness about the importance of consensual sex by growing my beard during the month of November. It is my belief that all sexual activity should be consensual and come after an enthusiastic yes!"
The intersection of rape culture and body image is a topic that is not nearly talked about as much as it should be. While there are many conversations on campus regarding both issues, there is not something that ties the two together in a way that educates and informs people. Separately, the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center and Body Peace Corps work on behalf of what each organization focuses on.
