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Intersection - Why It's Tough to Talk About Sexual Violence

Janet Saidi
/
KBIA

In a new report on the University of Missouri’s campus climate, the American Association of Universities says about a quarter of undergraduate women who responded to its survey have experienced sexual assault or harassment on campus. For trans, genderqueer and nonbinary students, that rate is more than 50 percent. 

The report also says more students know about on-campus resources for sexual assault and harassment, but that doesn’t necessarily stop sexual assault from happening. 

The fact is, this is a really hard thing to talk about - especially for assault survivors. But advocates say one of the most important things you can do for a survivor - is to talk about it with them. So we talked about it - on this edition of Intersection. 

KBIA producer Kassidy Arena spoke with survivors about their experiences, reaching resilience, getting support, and how most media gets this topic wrong. In this edition of Intersection, Kassidy speaks with students Casey Smith and Kelly Slatter, and is also joined by Matthew Huffman with the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. 

To talk with someone regarding sexual assault, contact True North or call their crisis line at 1.800.548.2480; MU's RSVP Center or call 1.573.882.6638; or contact the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.  The Coalition also offers these numbers on its website: the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233; the National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673; and the Deaf Crisis Line videophone - call 321-800-3323 or text HAND to 839863.

Kassidy Arena was the Engagement Producer for KBIA from 2022-2023. In her role, she reported and produced stories highlighting underrepresented communities, focused on community outreach and promoting media literacy. She was born in Berkeley, California, raised in Omaha, Nebraska and graduated with a degree in Journalism at the University of Missouri, Columbia.
Janet Saidi is a producer and professor at KBIA and the Missouri School of Journalism.