Being Barnard Violence Prevention Program
Being Barnard is the college's sexual violence education, prevention, and outreach program. The mission of Being Barnard is to provide a holistic approach to sexual violence prevention through campus-wide campaigns, educational programming, one-on-one health consultation services, community building, outreach, advocacy, and intervention. Sexual assault and interpersonal violence affect students of all genders, identities, and backgrounds and are widely recognized to not be isolated issues but part of a much larger societal picture. As such, it is our hope that by addressing a multitude of interwoven topics, such as healthy relationships and sexuality, affirmative consent, personal boundaries, self-care, bystander intervention, and social identities and power, that we may help reduce, and one day eliminate, sexual assault and violence from our campus and global communities.
Being Barnard is a Confidential Office
Location: 119 Reid Hall (inside the Well Woman office)
Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, and alternating Fridays - 1 pm to 4 pm (please email to schedule)
- For in person appointments, students will be expected to wear a mask for the duration of the appointment and produce their green Co-Verified clearance screen.
- Students may still book virtual appointments outside of the above hours. To book a virtual appointment, please email beingbarnard@barnard.edu.
Email: beingbarnard@barnard.edu*
* Please note that this email is not meant for emergency use and is not monitored 24/7. If you have experienced violence or are supporting someone who has, on- and off-campus resources can be found here.
Being Barnard is a confidential, multi-faceted office dedicated to prevention, education, and support surrounding issues of sexual & intimate partner violence.
Being Barnard provides the following services:
- Campus wide programming
- Topics such as bystander intervention, healthy relationships, consent, healthy sexuality, consent in the arts, and much more
- Office hours: Monday, Tuesday, alternating Fridays - 1 pm to 4 pm (by appointment)
- Come in to seek support; ask questions about sexuality, relationships, identity, boundary setting, etc.; seek referrals to on and off campus resources; or even just to read through the books in our library
- One on One Sex Ed & Healthy Relationship Consultations
- Have questions about sex, sexual health & challenges, sexual violence, relationships, or identity? These 1 hour appointments are a great way to explore those questions and so much more in a shame free, supportive environment
- Student Group Support
- Support, resources, & training for student organizations
To contact us to schedule a workshop, one on one appointment, or inquire about student group support:
email: beingbarnard@barnard.edu
Being Barnard is the College’s ongoing sexual violence awareness initiative created with the input of students and staff. Through a comprehensive array of programs offered by Being Barnard staff and numerous campus partners, students can learn skills, engage in discussion, and gain insight & support in the following important social areas: wellness, relationships, intervention, social identities & social power, and violence education. For more information on each of these areas, please read below.
Intervention
We’ve all been in situations where we have seen something or heard something that we knew just wasn’t right. But sometimes we don’t know how to intervene safely or effectively. These programs focus on building skills in bystander intervention, advocacy, and changing social norms so that you can help your community be a safer and healthier place.
Social Identities & Social Power
Every human being is made up of a complex set of identities: our gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, ability, country of origin, and so much more. The ways in which these identities intersect affect how we are able to walk through the world. These programs focus on the intersections of identities and the personal and social ramifications of power, privilege, and oppression.
Violence Education
Violence can come in many forms - physical, emotional, or verbal. Whether it comes in the form of a microaggression, an unwanted touch, verbal or emotional threats, or physical assault, violence can have far reaching negative effects on our personal well being and the well being of our communities. These programs focus on recognizing and naming violence in all of its forms, learning the skills and resources to help survivors of violence, unpacking privileges that allow cycles of violence to continue, and advocating for a shift to a society where violence of any kind is no longer threatened or tolerated.
Relationships
How do you foster and nurture your relationships with your friends, family, partners, and most importantly, with yourself? These programs focus on relationship building, communication, learning and setting personal boundaries, active and ongoing consent, conflict resolution, and so much more! We’re here to help you learn the tools to build and sustain positive, healthy relationships with yourself and others.
Wellness
How do you take care of your whole self - mentally, physically, and emotionally? Being a student can sometimes be overwhelming and, often, self care is the first thing that falls by the wayside. These programs focus on tending to mental health, sexual health, nutrition, sleep, and even hobbies so that you can learn the skills to balance caring for academics with caring for yourself.
* Being Barnard is a constantly evolving initiative that seeks to grow and expand with the needs of our campus community. If you have suggestions for future programming or areas of focus, we’d love to hear from you. Please submit your suggestions and comments to BeingBarnard@barnard.edu*
Resources
Barnard strives to provide numerous health, wellness, violence prevention, and survivor support resources for our students. To learn more about our confidential and non-confidential campus resources as well as valuable off campus resources and online resources, click the link above.
Quickly explore the information available on the Being Barnard page!
Resources
Confidential and non-confidential resources available on campus, as well as off campus and online resources for those seeking support for experiences of sexual or intimate partner violence.
What is Consent
Have questions about what consent is (or isn't)? This page gives definitions and links to education.
Bystander Intervention
Learn about the 5 steps to Bystander Intervention, ways to intervene, and how to request a Bystander Intervention program for your organization or department.
Sex and COVID-19
Safer sex guide and communication tips for navigating relationships during COVID-19.
Request a Program
Are you interested in having Being Barnard present a program to your class, student organization, or department? Click here to find out how!
Calendar of Events
See what events Being Barnard has coming up and explore our past events.
On May 30, 2020, Barnard College informed its community that the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights had issued a Final Rule under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The Final Rule defines the meaning of “sexual harassment” (including forms of sex-based violence), describes how schools must respond to reports of misconduct falling within the new definition of sexual harassment, and sets forth a grievance process that schools must follow in these specific covered cases before issuing a disciplinary sanction against a person accused of sexual harassment.
On August 14, despite the repeated objections of many of those institutions — including Barnard — and tens of thousands of individuals, the Final Rule took effect.
To learn more about the Final Rule and what this means at Barnard, please see the Title IX office's extensive, explanatory page.
If you wish to learn more, please contact Madeline Camacho, Barnard’s Interim Title IX Coordinator. Ms. Camacho can be reached by phone at (212) 853-0772 or by email at mcamacho@barnard.edu.
Dear Barnard Community:
In recent weeks, you may have heard about a number of companies advertising "at home evidence collection kits." These kits have been marketed to colleges and universities as well as individual consumers as an alternative to standard hospital forensic exams for survivors of sexual violence. As healthcare professionals and sexual violence educators, we cannot, in good conscience, endorse these products.
We have grave concerns over the high potential for harm and re-traumatization that these kits pose.
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As they currently exist, there is a high likelihood that the kits will not be admissible evidence in legal proceedings.
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The companies have not made clear what happens to a survivor’s personal information once it is submitted.
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These companies are charging survivors for the kits whereas hospital forensic exams are provided free for survivors who wish to have them done.
We urge survivors of sexual violence who wish to have evidence collected to seek out professional medical attention and support services.
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Advocates at Sexual Violence Response (SVR) are available to help you navigate the process and accompany you to the ER. Their helpline – 212.854.HELP(4357) – is available 24/7.
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Mt. Sinai-St.Lukes is the closest emergency room with a dedicated medical team for survivors of sexual violence. Trained, trauma-informed professionals can walk you through the evidence collection process, follow the proper protocols including following the chain of custody required for legal evidence, as well as provide any necessary testing and preventative medication.
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Primary Care Health Service can assist you with a medical evaluation, testing, and/or referral to an appropriate resource
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Furman Counseling Center can provide counseling support, often so crucial after experiencing trauma
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Title IX support, which can enable you to access accommodations which many survivors find helpful in the aftermath of trauma. Additionally, Title IX can assist you if you choose to file a report.
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Additional information about the evidence collection process can be found on the Title IX website.
While every survivor’s path to healing is different and we encourage each individual to make the choices that feel best and safest to them, we also feel it is our duty to inform our campus community of the potential harm of these at-home kits so that individuals are informed and aware.
Sincerely,
MJ Murphy - Executive Director of Student Health & Wellness Services
Marjorie Seidenfeld - Medical Director
Jessica Cannon - Director of Health Promotion & Education
Cristen Kennedy - Program Coordinator of Prevention Education
If you are a survivor of sexual or relationship violence or you are caring for a survivor and you need support, please reach out to the following confidential resources:
Sexual Violence Response
Barnard: 105 Hewitt Hall
Morningside: 700 Lerner Hall
24/7 Helpline: 212.854.HELP (4357)
Being Barnard
122 Reid Hall
Furman Counseling
100 Hewitt Hall
212.854.2092
Primary Care Health Service
Lower Level Brooks Hall
212.854.2091
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To date, a number of survivor support agencies, colleges and universities, medical institutions, and government entities have released statements regarding these kits such as the Campus Advocacy& Prevention Professionals Association, International Association of Forensic Nurses, New York Attorney General, and many more. You can read their statements below:
Campus Advocacy & Prevention Professionals Association:
http://www.nationalcappa.org/me-too-kits
International Association of Forensic Nurses:
https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.forensicnurses.org/resource/resmgr/docs/Responding_to_Victim_Adminis.pdf
University of Utah SAAVI Program:
http://www.usu.edu/today/?id=58594
New York AG Office:
https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2019/attorney-general-james-orders-sexual-assault-evidence-kit-companies-cease-and
Virginia AG Office:
https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/1525-september-10-2019-herring-issues-warning-about-self-administered-sexual-assault-evidence-kits
North Carolina AG Office:
https://ncdoj.gov/attorney-general-josh-stein-me-too-at-home-sexual-assault-kits-are-dangerous-and-misleading/
Michigan AG:
https://www.michigan.gov/ag/0,4534,7-359-92297_47203-506020--,00.html