New Resource to Address Sexual Violence

Sexual Violence Response (SVR) & Rape Crisis/Anti-Violence Support Center will open a new location at CUMC this month, kicking off with an open house on March 25. SVR, a part of Columbia Health, has two other locations at Columbia, on the Morningside and Barnard campuses.

https://youtu.be/LiZ2fse0P1I

At each location, staff and volunteers support survivors of sexual violence through advocacy, emotional support, and connections to outside resources for help. SVR also offers events and workshops to educate and connect with the larger university community. The CUMC location will be a safe campus location to go for help—providing direct support to students impacted by sexual and relationship violence and offering guidance to co-survivors.

“Survivors and co-survivors need a place to speak confidentially and to get the services, guidance, and support they need,” said La’Shawn Rivera, director of SVR.

In addition to offering emotional support and providing information and referrals, SVR helps survivors seek support on and off campus.

“We can accompany student survivors to the hospital, to court hearings, or to student judicial hearings on campus,” said Ms. Rivera.

Other initiatives focus on education and outreach to students, faculty, and staff.

“We discuss how to prevent violence, how to understand these issues, how to identify violent behaviors early on and intervene if you notice signs,” said Ms. Rivera.

The CUMC community is invited to learn more about SVR and its services, how to seek support, or how to get involved as a volunteer at an open house on March 25 from 5:30–8 p.m. in the Bard Hall lounge. Ms. Rivera and other staff members and volunteers will speak. Refreshments will be served. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to ald2209@columbia.edu by March 18.