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MIT program to combat sexual violence marks first anniversary

June 19, 2009

MIT’s Program for Violence Prevention and Response (VPR) just marked its first birthday, and it has already helped numerous survivors of sexual assault.

VPR was officially launched in June 2008 by Chad Waxman and Divya Kumar, program managers in MIT Medical’s Center for Health Promotion and Wellness, with funding from the offices of the chancellor and three senior deans. The program builds on work that began with funding from a grant through the Department of Justice. Kumar is the current violence prevention and response advocate—a primary contact for anyone at MIT who has been sexually assaulted or wants information on how to prevent this crime.

The program defines sexual assault as any form of unwanted sexual contact. This includes rape and other forms of penetration but also unwanted touching and even acts where there is no physical contact, such as exposing oneself, Waxman and Kumar explain.

As the VPR advocate, Kumar helps sexual assault survivors obtain medical care and counseling, both on- and off-campus. She also guides them through the process of reporting the incident, collecting evidence, pressing criminal charges, and initiating MIT disciplinary measures when appropriate. If a survivor needs to change his or her living situation or take time off from school or work, she helps with that, too.

"A survivor instead of a victim"

“After being assaulted, I felt lost. With the help of VPR's supportive, caring staff, I began healing,” a former program client says. “Their strength and dedication helped me recognize my own strengths, and I finally felt like a survivor instead of a victim.”

The VPR program “understands when you need help, understands the kinds of things that help, and the kinds of things that don't. They get it, innately and fundamentally,” says another former client. “I am not exaggerating when I say the staff saved my life, and there is nowhere else I would send someone on this campus if they needed help. The only criticism I have of the program is that it does not receive enough attention from the MIT community.”

From 2006–08, MIT Campus Police received 19 reports of sexual assault, 24 reports of domestic violence, and two reports of stalking, according to campus crime statistics. While there are no obvious trends over time, “sexual assault is a grossly underreported crime,” Waxman says.

Strategies for prevention

The “prevention” component of “violence prevention and response” takes the form of education programs with students and staff who deal directly with students. One important point Waxman makes in these presentations is that perpetrators of sexual assault are usually already known to their victims. “It’s often someone who’s socially skilled and who finds someone vulnerable they can manipulate,” he says. “Research shows it’s usually premeditated.”

Another point Waxman makes is that “for far too long, people felt that prevention was the responsibility of the woman,” such as choosing how to dress or taking a rape-defense course. (Although sexual violence is most often perpetrated by men on women, Waxman emphasizes that both men and women can be perpetrators or victims.)

VPR’s prevention efforts focus on “bystander education,” so when people who see potential or actual sexual assault, they don’t simply look the other way. “It’s like taking a drunk person’s car keys. It becomes everyone’s responsibility,” Waxman says.

“Our goal is to create a community that believes sexual violence is unacceptable and will universally support survivors,” Kumar says.

For help or more information, contact VPR advocate Divya Kumar at VPRadvocate@med.mit.edu or 617-253-1307, or see the VPR web page.