Did you know...

• 1 in 4 college women are sexually assaulted (a number consistently found in multiple national studies spanning over 35-plus years).
• 1 in 16 college men are sexually assaulted.
• Fewer than 5 percent of college rapes are ever reported…men are extremely less likely to report than women.
• Ninety-eight percent of reported rapes are factual accounts (only 2 percent are unfounded, which is no different than any other crime and doesn't necessarily mean a false report).

As staff or faculty, do you want to be part of change and make an impact on these numbers?

Consider becoming a STAR Central After Hours Volunteer Staff/Faculty Advocate. This is a great opportunity for helping students during a very difficult time. Just a little of your time can make a lifetime of difference for a student in crisis.

What is a STAR Central Volunteer Staff/Faculty Advocate? 

A STAR Central Volunteer Staff/Faculty Advocate is someone who wants to help students during a very difficult time. By being on call for one week at a time, the volunteer advocate provides support during the process if a student victimized by sexual assault chooses to report and have a medical forensic exam done and/or report to law enforcement.

STAR Central partners with Northwest Medical-Willow Creek Hospital so that students who have experienced such trauma and choose to have evidence collection, may do so in a very timely and compassionate fashion.

As part of that program, a trained advocate is present during the process to provide compassionate support, answer questions, and ensure follow-up resources are provided. A few hours of support during a very difficult time can make a lifetime difference.

What is involved with being a STAR Central Staff/Faculty Volunteer Advocate? 

To be an advocate, you must have a willingness to help an individual during one of the most difficult times of their lives, be willing to believe and support the victim no matter what the situation, and a willingness to serve on-call after hours (5 p.m. to 8 a.m.) during the week and on weekends as part of a rotation of volunteers.

Currently, dedicated volunteers serve a couple of weeks per semester (fall and spring) as either the primary or the back-up secondary or tertiary on-call person. Those who have been volunteering have found that it is not an overwhelming amount of time and when someone is called, it has been a rewarding experience to be able to help a student.

Being on call sounds scary and like a lot of time commitment. 

For those who do choose to report, having a trained volunteer advocate present can make all the difference! The reality is that getting called is less likely than you think. However, having dedicated people available for when the need does exist is crucial. Also, don't be scared. STAR Central provides appropriate training so volunteer advocates have a good working knowledge of advocacy prior to ever getting called. STAR Central staff will provide all follow-up with individuals and their on-going advocacy needs. 

How does one become a STAR Central Staff/Faculty Volunteer Advocate?

• Step 1: Basic requirements: must be currently employed by the university, either appointed classified or non-classified staff position or faculty position. (Note: Students are not eligible.)
• Step 2: Complete the survey application at www.surveymonkey.com/r/NJLFP99 by Friday, Dec. 8.
• Step 3: Attend and complete the training session to be held on Tuesday, Dec. 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Training will be held at the Pat Walker Health Center (Room TBA). Traditionally, with your supervisor's permission, attendance of this training has been allowable during regular work hours. The training will not only prepare you for being a volunteer advocate, but will potentially enhance whatever position you hold on campus as for you will have a better understanding of matters related to sexual assault.

The deadline to submit your application survey is Friday, Dec. 8.

Questions? Contact Dr. Mary A. Wyandt-Hiebert at mwyandt@uark.edu.