NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The start of the new school year can be very exciting for college students, and it can also be dangerous.
College classes are back in session across the Tidewater region, including at Old Dominion University, where educators want students to know about all of the resources to prevent sexual assault.
The ‘red zone’ of sexual assault is from August to November, as students on college campuses are starting the semester.
“They are more prone to be vulnerable for interpersonal violence incidences, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, domestic violence, and human trafficking,” said Dr. Tonya M. Shell, Adjunct Professor in the Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice and Women’s & Gender Studies at Old Dominion University. “The red zone is something not to necessarily be concerned with in a negative aspect, but lets us be proactive versus reactive.”
Shell served as a probation officer for two decades, now she is walking alongside students. Shell is facilitating five classes on the campus including:
- Introduction to criminology
- Probation, parole and community corrections
- Women, girls and human trafficking
- Sex and human trafficking
- Crime, society and the media
“I’ve always been an educator and a practitioner, having the best of both worlds to merge together,” Shell said. “It’s still advocacy and it’s being able to help, but in a different capacity, preparing young leaders for their next steps in life.”
Research into sexual assaults on college campuses shows new students are especially vulnerable adjusting to campus life.
“Oftentimes students, they feel invincible,” Shell said. “This would never happen to me, or it would never happen to someone that I really care about. It is almost cinematic. … However, things happen in real time, and we need to be aware of the indicators, how to report and when to report.”
It is important for parents to talk with their students about consent.
“Allowing them to know that you have to do your due diligence in making decisions that would not necessarily place me in these circumstances, but what are the resources made available that I can do prior,” Shell said. “Although they are adults, [they] still need guidance. … Allow your children to know that you can come to me and understand that you’re never alone.”
ODU provides resources for survivors of assault including the Departments of Women and Gender Studies, Sociology and Criminal Justice.
“We have collaborating institutions, to include the Office of Attorney General, and the US Department of Homeland Security Blue campaign,” Shell said. “The police department on campus, they’re very much invested in making certain that students are supported.”
In light of Hampton Roads having a high number of trafficking reports, through the sex and human trafficking course, Shell implemented an inaugural summer enrichment program, called CIVPER, which stands for Campus Interpersonal Violence Prevention, Education & Response Program.
“The students and participants that were engaged in this program learn how to become practitioners, engaged in self-studies or case studies,” Shell said. “In addition to that, they were able to follow live cases that were happening within Coastal Virginia and internationally.”
Tanya Gould, the Anti-Human Trafficking director with the Office of the Attorney General, partnered with Shell on the program.
“They were able to screen an original film ‘Groomed’ that was specifically to human trafficking and sex trafficking,” Shell said, “which affects the demographics of college students and especially incoming freshmen, which ties back into the red zone.”
The short film is based on Gould’s life.
“She was able to speak with them directly from both angles as a practitioner, and survivorship in general,” Shell said.
Shell hopes through raising awareness and education, this community will prevent sexual assaults.
“If things were to happen, we want to make certain that our educators and fellow colleagues within these institutions are equipped with how to take the next steps,” Shell said, “through free resources for educators, advocates, practitioners and moreover, just the community at large.”
To learn more about reporting sexual assault and violence at ODU, visit odu.edu/wgec/crisis.
