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News >1-2 Students celebrate the creation of a new multicultural student government
Arts & Culture 5 University professor to release a sci-fi novel
THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 | VOLUME 130 ISSUE 15
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
Photo Illustration by Caroline Fiss/KANSAN
The "Black Dot Campaign" was meant to help domestic violence victims, but has garnered criticism.
University officials talk domestic violence awareness
▶ LARA KORTE
@lara_korte
A few months ago, a new trend in domestic violence intervention took the internet by storm. The "Black Dot Campaign" was originally touted as a way for victims of domestic violence to send out a silent plea for help by drawing a black dot in the center of their palm.
It's gained a huge amount of support.
Posted by The Mirror on Saturday, September 19, 2015
The internet sensation quickly died out after receiving widespread criticism. While it may have seemed like a creative way for victims of domestic violence to speak out, Jen Brockman, sexual assault prevention and education coordinator for the University, said the viral nature of the campaign essentially made its purpose a moot point.
"The downside and the backlash of that campaign was that it also created a vulnerability, because victims of domestic violence
aren't the only ones that are on social media; offenders are too," Brockman said. "So as much as a victim can identify, 'Oh, if I put a dot on my hand, then my primary care provider will know,' the abuser has also seen that, and if they recognize or see that call for help, that victim becomes very vulnerable for violence and abuse escalation."
While the primary purpose of the campaign may have backfired, Brockman said it raised a necessary question.
"The best outcome of that is someone had to ask, 'Why do we have to have this dot in the first place?' Then we can have that conversation surrounding domestic and partner violence," Brockman said.
The signs of domestic violence might not be as visible as a black dot, but Lindsey Johnston, SAFE program coordinator for the Willow Domestic Violence Center, said there are behaviors a bystander can identify that indicate if someone is in an abusive relationship.
Johnston said abuse isn't always a visible bruise
or scrape on a person's body; it can be physical, emotional, sexual or online abuse.
"There could be intimidation or hitting or pinching or physical, as well as name calling, shaming or bullying with emotional, as well as with sexual. It will be anything when a sex act takes place, and that person cannot consent or does not want to consent," Johnston said.
Continue to be that structure for them of 'no matter what, you know I am going to be here for you."
Johnston said another key indicator to look for is isolation. Often, abusers will coerce survivors into spending less time with family and friends, she said, but speaking to them and
Jen Brockman sexual assault prevention and education coordinator
Isolation can also involve finances, Brockman said. An abuser might restrict a person's access to funds, and therefore, independence. Brockman said financial isolation is just one form of controlling and manipulative behaviors that may indicate abuse. Other forms of manipulation can cross over into controlling clothing choices or hairstyles, she said.
acting as support can help the situation.
While bystander intervention is important, Brockman said it's crucial to be mindful of a survivor's situation when approaching them to help. Typically, Brockman said bystanders will either invalidate the abuse, or go into what she called "hyper-fixer mode" by trying to contact police or confront the abuser. Neither of these are helpful, Brockman said.
The first step in approaching a friend about his or her unhealthy relationship is to find a place that's private, open and confidential. At that point, Brockman said a friend can start asking "soft questions."
The idea of "soft" questioning is to make sure the survivor doesn't feel attacked, or like they have to defend or rationalize the behavior of their partner. Instead of asking, "Are you in an abusive relationship?" Brockman recommends starting off by pointing out small indicators like the way a person might act nervous or uneasy around their significant other.
After the initial conversation, Brockman said it's all about support.
"Instead of telling them, 'Your relationship is bad,' you say, 'Here are some things I've noticed that don't seem familiar to me', Brockman said. "Because if you create this, 'us against them' mentality, the victim feels like they have to protect the other or they've got to side with them, then they're going to wall up on you."
"We always talk about that domestic violence and intimate partner violence are the experts in their own lives, and so really it's having to evaluate what is safe for them." Brockman said.
Johnston said a friend can help a survivor contact
resources or get help evaluating their situation.
"Maybe they just want to feel safe for a while, maybe they decide they do want to go back and that is the safe choice right now, sometimes that can be safer, in more adult relationships if you have kids and stuff like that, it might be safer at the time to go back, and then plan safely around things like that," Johnston said.
Johnston said a large majority of college-age people don't know how to help someone who is a victim of dating abuse. Brockman said the important thing is that friends remain a constant place of support for survivors.
"Continue to be that structure for them of 'no matter what, you know I am going to be here for you,'" Brockman said, "Because eventually, they're going to be able to get away, emotionally and physically, and they're going to need people to rally around them."
- Edited by Sarah Kruger
Senate to fund first-ever Multicultural Student Government
Alex Robinson/KANSAN Student activist Kat Rainey addresses Full Senate March 9 to urge them to fund the Multicultural Student Government. Representatives from #ConcernedStudent1950, the University of Missouri student activist group, were present for the meeting.
Alex Robinson/KANSAN
▶ LARA KORTE
@lara_korte
The fee review bill passed Full Senate Wednesday night by a vote of 51-9-6, and will move to Vice Provost of Student Affairs Tammara Durham for approval. The fee review bill approves funding for many University organizations and services, including a new Multicultural Student Government, the first of its kind in the nation.
The creation of the MSG was part of an amendment to the fiscal budget for 20162C17 to increase funding for the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
Members of the student group Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk spoke in favor of passing the bill. Student activists Kat Rainey and Jameelah Jones introduced the proposed government as a necessary entity that would focus its efforts on meeting the needs of minority students.
Rainey and Jones reiterated the ideas presented last week when the amendment was in Finance Committee. Rainey said the government intends to work with Student Senate, and although the two entities would be separate, they would not be isolated. Rainey and Jones said the Multicultural Student Government would not be about segregation, but equity, giving additional resources to demographics that have been denied equality in the past.
"This would be the first
"This is a solution to multicultural students being excluded and underrepresented in central, governmental and policies and procedures," Jones said.
and only Multicultural Student Government the nation has ever seen," Rainey said.
Many senators asked questions regarding specifics of the the organization and how it would operate. Finance Committee Chairman Tyler Childress criticized senators for excessive questioning, saying no other organization is ever asked to give detailed information about their constitution or bylaws.
The senators' questions were criticized heavily by guest speakers from the University of Missouri student movement #ConcernedStudent1950. The movement gained national attention last semester and brought to light issues of racial prejudice at the university.
SEE SENATE PAGE2