How Boynton Supports Victims of Sexual Assault

April 26, 2023

College students have plenty of things to worry about: grades and due dates, how late it’s possible to sleep in and still get to class on time, and what to eat for lunch. And on top of that, unfortunately, the possibility of sexual assault.

College students have plenty of things to worry about: grades and due dates, how late it’s possible to sleep in and still get to class on time, and what to eat for lunch. And on top of that, unfortunately, the possibility of sexual assault. The reality or possibility of sexual assault is something that most college students are going to face, either in their lives or in the lives of their loved ones.

The majority of people experiencing sexual assault are college aged. One in six American women experiences an attempted or completed rape. College aged women experience higher rates of sexual assault than women overall, but women who are college students actually experience lower rates of sexual assault than their peers who are not in school. Male college students are five times more likely to experience sexual assault then men the same age who are not students. Trans and gender non conforming students are more likely to experience sexual assault than their cis peers. Here at the U the number of rapes reported on campus almost doubled between 2019 and 2022. 

Boynton Health wants to meet all of the health care needs faced by UMN students, and that means talking about sexual assault. Boynton Health has multiple programs in place to help prevent sexual assault and to start conversations about consent. We also offer resources for students who have experienced sexual assault, adressing both the physical and mental after effects. Boynton Health wants to help students have a positive relationship with their sexual health, which means both providing routine care, and being helpful in the aftermath of instances of assault, making sure that students feel supported to get the care they need. 

Boynton Health’s Prevention Advocates program helps sorority and fraternity members prevent sexual assault within their organizations, working to create a culture of consent. Prevention Advocates teach people in their circles about consent, boundaries, and how to intervene when they see the possibility of sexual assault. In addition, they question how things are done, and help to make events safer and more inclusive. Because change can be slow to come, Prevention Advocates are also trained to support survivors of sexual assault. Change is most effective when it comes from within, and Boynton Health is proud to support these students as they educate their peers and work together to change the culture. 

Boynton Health’s LGBTQIA+ Healthy Norms Promotion Grant Program awarded two different student organizations funds to prevent sexual assault amoung queer students. This program is aimed at reaching queer students who often don’t see their relationships and community represented. It’s important to make sure that conversations about consent and healthy relationships are reaching people of all different genders and orientations. Sexual assault can happen to anyone, so everyone needs the langague to prevent it, and access to resources if it becomes a part of their life. 

Boynton Health offers STI testing, which may be an urgent need in the aftermath of sexual assault, but should also be a regular part of looking after your health if you’re sexually active. Along with testing, Boynton Health offers resources and supplies for safer sex. Safer sex isn’t just about preventing disease, it’s about consent too. Talking about what kind of protection you’re using can be a great way to start conversations about boundaries.

Sexual assault doesn’t just impact physical wellbeing, but mental health as well. Getting mental health care can be incredibly helpful in the wake of a traumatic incident like sexual assault, and Boynton Health's Mental Health Clinic has providers trained to offer that type of care. But also, negotiating sex, consent, and relationships is difficult work, especially in a culture that is feeding us lots of unhealthy ideas about how sex and relationships are supposed to work, and Boynton’s Mental Health team is here for students who need help handling all of that. There doesn’t need to be some huge trauma in your life to qualify for mental health care, it’s for any student that needs help. 

Boynton Health wants students to have a healthy relationship with sex. That means addressing the huge problem of rape and sexual assault, but also doing the everyday work of teaching about consent and safer sex and healthy relationships. 

If you, or someone you know, is a victim of Sexual Assault, please call Boynton Health's Crisis Line at 612-301-4673 or schedule an appointment with Boynton Health's Mental Health Clinic by calling 612-624-1444.

Written by: Bessie Browne

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