Resources at Chico State ensure the safety and security of students and faculty alike, providing opportunities for advocacy and care. As April comes to a close, sexual assault awareness continues to thrive through various help centers both on and off campus.
At the very core of these efforts is “Safe Place”, a resource on campus that provides both confidential and free services to those impacted by sexual assault, as well as dating violence and stalking. “We are available 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; there is always someone available for the most part in the student services center,” said Elia Hernandez, who works with the program as an advocacy coordinator.
Safe Place typically hosts events to engage students, which is where the majority of students hear about them. “I often hear that participants find out about us either through one of our presentations or word of mouth. We have presentations on boundaries, apologies, healthy relationships, affirmative consent, to name a few, which peak a lot of interest,” said Chima Rivas, coordinator of advocacy services.
Safe Place gives an array of options, including one-on-one advocacy, granting help with the emotional choices that may come when reporting an incident. “We meet them (the survivor) wherever they’re at, so that they don’t have to move forward with saying they’re not ready to move forward with, they don’t have to remember or talk about everything when they come in. It’s at the survivors’ own pace,” Hernandez said.
“We provide information that’s useful to them and whether they take those steps is up to them. When students can’t remember everything or don’t know what to report, we will still provide information and do our best to make them feel empowered,” Said Hernandez
In addition to services offered on campus, students always have off-campus advocacy available to them as well. This is done through Catalyst, Domestic Violence Services, a local organization that provides confidential support for survivors of sexual assault and domestic abuse. Students are given access to the 24-hour hotline to speak with an advocate after hours or when they need immediate support off campus.
This serves as a great alternative, given that Safe Place is active throughout the week at set hours and that support should always be available. Lani Magana, who works at the front desk in Room 430 of the Student Services Center, notes that timing does play a key role in accessibility. “I would say that calling in is easiest; we do tend to get busier at the end of the semester.”
Above all, these services are available to anyone struggling to get out of or even express a debilitating situation. “I want to remind people that we are all deserving of support and resources. Survivor Advocates understand that this is a complex and stressful time. There is no ‘right’ way to show up. We are ready to support you, as the human you are, with no judgment,” Rivas said.
To schedule an appointment with Chico Safe Place, use the following.
Phone Number for Chico Safe Place: 530-898-3030
Email: [email protected]
Bria Martinez can be reached at [email protected]
