Fro-yo jokes and degrading comments seem to have become the norm at Dartmouth, a norm that a new student group, the Sexual Violence Mentoring Program, aims to combat. The group plans to take a proactive approach not only to avert sexual violence, but also will attempt to eventually change the culture of the College.
Beginning this fall, the Sexual Violence Mentoring Program will train students to facilitate discussions through residential education, athletic teams, Greek houses and affinity houses. SVMP hopes to complement the Sexual Abuse Peer Advisors by reaching out to students before problems occur. The organization aims to instill confidence in students so that they will stand up for themselves and for friends when inappropriate comments are made or when inappropriate situations arise. The ultimate goal is to alter the culture of the campus over time to foster a more conscious, respectful atmosphere.
"They just get let go, no one says anything," Meredith Raucher '06, a member of the SVMP steering committee, said about sexist jokes and comments. "They're seen as normal. Just because they happen every day doesn't mean they're okay."
The steering committee of SVMP, currently accepting applications for its first batch of mentors, is comprised of men and women, athletes, members of Greek houses and other students. They believe it is crucial to have diversity in the program if all students on campus are to benefit.
"The problem isn't just a female situation and the problem isn't just a male situation," said Jonathan Lazarow '05, who conceived of the idea for SVMP last year. "If men don't buy in, the program won't work, so that's why we're working with a bunch of men and a bunch of athletes."
Steve Daley '05, a lacrosse player and member of Theta Delta Chi fraternity, is one of the committee's original members.
"As a man, I feel it is important to reach out to my peers on my team and in my house to make sure that they are aware that violence against women is not funny or cool and that most people around them feel the same way," Daley said. "It is important for Dartmouth to be proactive on preventing violence."
The first mentors will attend a three-day intensive training during First-Year Orientation this fall. Mentors in Violence Prevention, a national organization based out of Northeastern University, will come to Dartmouth to train these first mentors. Then, students who wish to become mentors during Winter term will be able to attend weekly sessions taught by Dartmouth mentors, allowing SVMP to be a self-replicating program.
SVMP plans to run programming events with all first-year students during orientation or soon after in order to educate them on both College policy and New Hampshire state laws. Aside from reaching out to first-year students, SVMP would like to reach students during sophomore summer and during senior year. At first, they aim to speak to Greek houses, affinity houses and sports teams. Undergraduate advisors will also be able to use SVMP as a programming event for their residents.
Raucher acknowledged that this presents a problem because certain students, those not affiliated with the aforementioned groups, will "fall through the cracks," and said it is a flaw that SVMP is working to fix.
Mentors, who will lead group sessions in pairs, will discuss scenarios that will be tailored to Dartmouth. Mentors will also act as role models around campus, and the hope is that if upperclassmen males, athletes and Greeks are role models in social settings, the discourse on campus will slowly change over time.
"It's sort of going to be a big trickle down process," Raucher said. She added that if fraternity members create a positive atmosphere, "people will follow suit."
As part of the Greek Leadership Council last spring, Lazarow gauged interest in SVMP among Greek houses before combining forces with the Men's Project. The steering committee had eight members this past fall, most of whom are seniors. The committee then recruited 11 underclassmen to ensure continuity, taking care to select Undergraduate Advisors, SAPAs, athletes and members of the Greek system.
