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SafeHouse Center of Ann Arbor is recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month during the month of April. April is set aside across the nation for every community to collectively focus upon the societal problem of sexual violence and the ways in which services like those at SAPAC and SafeHouse are working to end this violence and seek justice for its victims. One event, held at the SafeHouse Center, is a Survivor Speak Out, where survivors of sexual assault, sexual harassment, intimate partner violence, and stalking can find a safe space to share their stories.

Experiencing so many different emotions is a part of working through what has happened to you.  Right now, you may wonder when you will “get your life back.”  Or, perhaps, you are not feeling much at all.  There is no right or wrong way to react to sexual assault.  Many survivors have found that patience, time, and support from others has helped them recover.  SAPAC and other rape crisis centers have worked with many who have had similar experiences.  A good counselor will understand and help you work through the emotional roller coaster that you may be on.

SafeHouse Center Definitions

Domestic violence is a pattern of coercive behavior used by people to control their intimate partners.  It often involves a physical assault or a threat of physical assault, but an abusive relationship may involve verbal and/or emotional abuse; sometimes it begins with these types of abuse and evolves into physical abuse.  A physical assault is almost always accompanied by one or more abusive tactics.

Summary

Summary of important points from the "Defining Sexual Assault" section of the Striving for Justice Toolkit.

This March, a group of 25 undergraduate and graduate students, staff, and faculty gathered in the Union to participate in SAPAC's third biannual Ally Training. The morning began with discussion-based sections centered on sexual assault, intimate partner violence, sexual harassment, stalking, and barriers to disclosure and reporting experienced within different communities. 

The purpose of this section is to provide information about survivors and their experiences with sexual violence.  This section will cover Rape Trauma Syndrome, common reactions to sexual violence, and sexual violence within underrepresented communities and communities of color.  It is designed to help panelists understand unique issues and barriers experienced by survivors, including survivors within underrepresented communities, and why survivors may react in certain ways throughout a hearing process.