Peer Ambassadors: Ideal messengers for misconduct prevention
Who better to lead educational workshops for students about sensitive issues like consent or bystander intervention than other students?
That premise led the Office for the Prevention of Harassment & Discrimination (OPHD) to develop a Peer Ambassador program that launched formally this year.
“It’s easier for students to connect with us because we are their age, their generation. We can share our own stories, and that makes it less intimidating,” said Jadalyn Jaimes, one of five OPHD Peer Ambassadors.
The ambassadors have already led more than 40 educational workshops and tabling events for students in residential life, Greek life, and clubs and organizations, said Julie Vivas, Assistant Vice President for Title IX, Equal Opportunity, and Dispute Resolution.
“The program is an outgrowth of our campuswide plans to strengthen our community and how we educate about and prevent sexual misconduct,” Vivas said.
“It’s more exciting than I thought it would be, because we can see we are having an impact during our presentations,” Peer Ambassador Suzy Latimer said.
“Students are open to learning and interacting,” Jaimes said. “I’m surprised at how vulnerable people are able to be with each other even within a short amount of time,”.
The two said they prepare for workshops by meeting with people from a group in advance so they can understand and better connect with each audience. Differences in cultural or other backgrounds affect group needs and dynamics, they said.
“Coming from the Davis area, I’m used to hearing and talking about these issues, but for other students, such topics were kept under the table,” Latimer said.
“I do a lot of workshops about consent,” Jaimes said. “But in my culture that was never talked about. It still isn’t.”
Ambassador Oryann Cleveland uses social media as a tool for educating students, including about help for those impacted by sexual misconduct, dating violence, or harassment.
“I am amazed at all of the resources that SSU has to offer. There are different resources for literally everything,” she said. To find out more, follow the Instagram account: SSUPreventHarm.
OPHD also serves as a placement for academic internships. Joelle Dyas is one of five interns this semester doing research to create new resources for students. Her topic is cyber-stalking, something she says should be taken more seriously.
On April 30, as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the interns will showcase what they have created, including games to engage students.
To request a workshop for your organization, please email ophd@sonoma.edu.