Students Share What They Stand for with “I’m an UPstander,” Stressing the Need to Intervene to Prevent Sexual Assault on Campus
(CHICAGO) – Today, Catharsis Productions launched Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2017 at Chicago’s Saint Xavier University with a special presentation of “Beat the Blame Game,” a program that helps staff and students identify and fight victim-blaming beliefs and behaviors. The program also kicked off Catharsis’ “I’m an UPstander” campaign, which empowers college students to step up and intervene when they encounter a potentially dangerous situation.
“Beat the Blame Game” helps college students recognize the most common reasons why people blame the victims of sexual violence and support the alleged perpetrators. The program dismantles these arguments with humor and myth-busting logic, sharing ways that students can step in when they see something happening that may lead to sexual assault or other violent behavior.
“We are so thrilled to partner with Saint Xavier University this year as we begin Sexual Assault Awareness Month,” said Dr. Gail Stern Co-Owner and Chief Visionary Officer of Catharsis Productions. “Bystander intervention is a really important form of sexual violence prevention not only on campus, but anywhere. Everyone has the power to stand up and say, ‘Hey, that’s not OK,’ to step in if they see something sketchy happening at a party or on the street. We all have the power to become an UPstander and it is our mission to give students the tools they need to stop sexual assault before it happens.”
“Beat the Blame Game is the perfect addition to Saint Xavier University’s sexual assault awareness programming, as it will help us arm our students with the tools to identify and fight victim-blaming and create a community of respect, compassion and care here on campus,” said Associate Dean of Students and Director of Class Programs Samantha Maher-Sheahan.
April 2017 is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Catharsis Productions’ “I’m an UPstander” campaign seeks to leverage this year’s theme “Engaging New Voices.” Educators from Catharsis Productions will be engaging students across the country in important conversations about ways to stand up when something isn’t right and sharing stories on social media.
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Catharsis Productions seeks to change the world by producing innovative, accessible and research-supported programming that challenges oppressive attitudes and shifts behavior. Our educators have been facilitating conversations about sexual violence around the world on college campuses, military installations and in the workplace for the past 17 years. We strategically employ humor as one of our most powerful tactics, framing challenging content in a less-threatening way. Catharsis Productions is based in Chicago, IL. Learn more at catharsisproductions.com.
Catharsis Productions
Catharsis Productions' mission is to change the world by producing innovative, accessible and research-supported programming that challenges oppressive attitudes and shifts behavior.