As the case of the Cornell 7 encompasses the country, college campus’s have found themselves in a nationwide spotlight.
Utah State University’s Survivor Support, Advocacy, and Violence Intervention (SSAVI) Office has been shining a spotlight of its own as the Red Zone wraps up.
The Red Zone is the title for the nationally recognized time of year when the most sexual assaults happen on a college campus, usually spanning between the first day of classes to Thanksgiving break. During the school year, more than 50% of sexual assaults happen during the Red Zone, according to John Hopkins University.
“A big part of the reason Red Zone happens is people are thrust into new situations,” said Ashleigh Totten, victim advocate and the outreach and prevention coordinator at SSAVI.
She further explained that much of SSAVI’s prevention outreach is targeted towards first-year students.
“They’re coming to college, maybe they’re exposed to drinking for the first time or parties for the first time, or they’re just in unfamiliar social situations,” Totten said. “They have new friend groups, new friends. They may be out with people that they don’t know, and they may not have a really strong support system.”
She said the lack of community and support is why USU focuses so strongly on major parties and events that happen during the first few weeks of classes, partially to distract from students partaking in “risky behavior.”
“I also think that encouraging students to be really, really involved fall semester of their freshman year also helps build those support networks and helps people find friends and join clubs, and all those are protective factors,” Totten said.
Totten, who’s office is equipped with a couch and soft lighting not unlike a therapists office — although those at SSAVI are not licensed therapists but coordinators who provide resources — spoke about the barriers that prevents students from spending time on her couch.
“Someone might be assaulted, or someone might be in an unhealthy relationship, and not even really realize that what happened to them was wrong,” Totten said. “So that’s a huge barrier. I think tying in with that, there’s a lot of victim blaming that happens in our culture, both in Utah and nationally.”
Totten also touched on how SSAVI has taken action since the viral ‘Cornell 7’ — a civil lawsuit filed this year about seven fraternity brothers who allegedly drugged and ganged-raped a woman who is using the pseudonym Jane Doe in the case — made headlines across the nation.
“We stand with all survivors, we believe all survivors, we believe all Jane does,” Totten said.
The ‘Cornell 7’ incident did allegedly happen in October 2024, during the Red Zone.
She mentioned that the university leadership changes within the past year, such as USU President Brad L. Mortensen, have proven to be positive in terms of preventative efforts.
“We have been meeting with them and chatting with them. As I think have a handful of other prevention offices, and everyone truly seems so enthusiastic about revamping prevention education on USU’s campus,” Totten said.
This school year SSAVI has put on multiple events in order to stand with survivors and educate the community on sexual assault awareness on college campuses.
This includes purple Wednesday’s, which is where the SSAVI office members have been wearing purple every Wednesday of October to stand with domestic violence survivors during domestic violence awareness month.
She mentioned the office also partners with different student organizations and leadership to make sure students can connect with other student resources.
SSAVI’s resources can be utilized via its website or in person in the Taggart Student Center, Room 311, by both survivors of sexual assault as well as loved ones and friends of survivors.
“We love our fall semester and all the really fun programming we get to do and interactions with students to try to hopefully encourage these conversations and let people know that it’s okay to talk about violence and it’s okay to talk about the things that happen and that there are people here to support them.,” Totten said.
