Philosophy

Interpersonal violence is a national issue affecting us all. At Campus Civil Rights, we are committed to offering services and resources to those impacted by interpersonal violence. Our center provides direct support to survivors, their friends, and family.We believe that crimes such as sexual assault are preventable. Through our prevention and education programs, we engage our community to address cultural factors that allow violence to exist.

Our approach to prevention:

We raise awareness, dispel myths, and build empathy within our campus community. Using research-based approaches, we offer customized programs that examine the prevalence of interpersonal violence and its impact on campus.

Addressing Rape Myths

Our programming addresses widespread rape myths—misconceptions about violence that contradict research and survivors' experiences. We confront these myths with data and survivor stories.

Building Empathy

Effective prevention relies on empathy. We ensure that our use of statistics and legal terms strengthens our message rather than detracts from the goal. Our ultimate goal is to encourage critical thinking about interpersonal violence and motivate individuals to stand against it on our campus.

Interpersonal violence is not an isolated event. It is supported by social and cultural norms. Prevention involves breaking down the cultural factors that contribute to violence, such as:

  • Language
  • Rigid gender roles and stereotypes
  • Objectification and dehumanization
  • Discrimination
  • Victim blaming

By examining these factors alongside identity, race, and socioeconomic status, we can understand how they enable violence in our community. Addressing these cultural aspects through education, social action, and bystander intervention fosters change.

Bystander intervention involves stepping in or speaking up when we see harmful situations. Our community must embrace collective responsibility and move away from the mindset of "minding our own business."

Intervention can happen on multiple levels, not just when there’s an active threat. To empower our community, Campus Civil Rights offers workshops that build confidence and skills in bystander intervention, discouraging conflict-based approaches in favor of safer strategies.

Every presentation and program at Campus Civil Rights ends with a call to action. Prevention is not possible without the efforts of the community to shift toward a culture that supports survivors and opposes violence.

Students Against Sexual Assault (SASA)

SASA is a student-led organization supported by Campus Civil Rights. It actively addresses cultural factors that allow interpersonal violence by holding events like:

  • Rallies and marches
  • Educational campaigns
  • Fundraisers

SASA aims to foster a community based on respect, consent, and healthy relationships.

Presentations

Violence Prevention Workshop

Attendees will participate in FREE sessions that break down the work of violence prevention while raising awareness and building skills in the following areas:

  • Survivor support services and resources
  • Prevalence and Empathy building
  • How Gender impacts violence
  • Contributing factors and foundations of violence
  • Understanding the law and legal definitions
  • Reframing how we think about perpetrators
  • Bystander Intervention

Participants leave with practical tools to support survivors and prevent violence. The workshop also serves as a prerequisite for those interested in becoming Campus Civil Rights advocates.

For more information on prevention workshops, contact Madi Herman at madison.herman@montana.edu

Additional presentation topics

  • Consent
  • Gender Stereotype
  • Pyramid of Violence
  • Healthy Relationships
  • Bystander Intervention

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