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What would women like men to do? What would you like men not to do?

January 24, 2013

Ben Atherton-Zeman, Activist, Actor and one of the most well-meaning, kind and passionate individuals we know is a dear friend of the One Student family. The infamous Mr. Atherton- Zeman is featured in Barbara Rosenthal’s documentary, You Are The One: A Journey of Recovery, Discovery and Empowerment (shameless plug). We invite you to read Ben’s article, “How Some Men Harass Women Online and What Other Men Can Do to Stop It” that was recently published in the Ms. Magazine blog. Learn ways that you can intervene and share suggestions in the comments section of what more men can do and what you might not want them to do.

Thanks Ben for not just being a part of this growing movement, but for leading by example.

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The Invisible War

November 27, 2012

by Jessica Spohn

Recently, the documentary  “The Invisible War” was screened at my University. It is a powerful new film  released in June 2012 about Military Service Trauma (MST)—a topic that has long  been kept hidden. Military Service Trauma is defined by U.S. Code 1720D of Title 38 as “trauma… resulted from a physical assault of a  sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment which occurred while the Veteran was serving on active duty or active duty for training.” According  to the film, a federal court decision in December of 2011 deemed MST an  “occupational hazard” of military service. Rape and assault in the military happens, it happens often, it is not a new trend, and it needs to stop.

The documentary reveals shocking first-hand stories of the women and men who proudly served their country but are Read More »

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Tips for Incoming Freshmen

November 6, 2012

by Coley Bochman

Congratulations! You made it. Welcome to college life, class of 2016! These next four years will be the best years of your life and I advise and challenge you to make the best of them. As I enter into my senior year, I’d like to pass down a few things  I have learned (the hard way) to ease your transition into college life.

Roommates

Living in a dorm is not easy. Living with a complete stranger in a confined space is definitely an experience.  Remember, fights will occur. It is good to talk about cleaning habits and set boundaries in the beginning so it’s not a surprise later. Spend a couple hours really getting to know each other. Always be respectful of your roommate  and their things, and likely they will show the same respect back. Remember to use I statements when communicating any issues or expressing needs. For example, “I feel this way when..” etc. With a little give and take from both sides, this complete stranger  could end up being  a lifetime friend.

Campus Life

I charge you to explore everything your campus has to offer.  Join clubs and get involved! There is something on every campus for everybody! If your campus has it, No Woman Left Behind is a great club to get involved in. It focuses on teaching Bystander Intervention with a goal of eliminating sexual assault on college campuses. There are also sports and intramural sports or  the gym if you want to stay active on your own.  Most of the services on campus are already paid for by your student fees, so take advantage of everything that is available to you!

Classes

Now this might seem silly, but go to your classes. It will be very difficult the first couple of weeks to get out of bed at eight am to Read More »

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Competent Caring

November 6, 2012

by Jessica Spohn

Something that bothers me is how quickly others expect individuals to bounce back from any kind of trauma—surgery, failing a class, or divorce, but especially domestic abuse and rape. There seems to be a lack of understanding that each survivor may exhibit a spectrum of emotional responses to the trauma (e.g., calm, hysteria, laughter, anger, apathy, shock, depression) as well as a lack of understanding that each survivor copes in a different way.  Victims and survivors of violence have their own culture— ideas, beliefs, and knowledge based on a shared experience. Competency is key to caring.

In my opinion, it’s time to increase awareness about the recovery process.

There’s a certain kind of fragility in resiliency. A person may look okay on the outside but can be fighting a battle on the inside, one whose scars will fade but will never completely go away. Victims of violence are victims until they feel they can overcome Read More »

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