Fostering a Safer Campus: a Community Service Webinar on Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Strategies at ITSM

Abstract

Sexual violence within university settings, including at the Institut Teknologi dan Sains Mandala (ITSM), represents a significant challenge that necessitates proactive and educational interventions to cultivate safer campus environments. This article details a community service webinar specifically developed and delivered to address this critical issue within the ITSM community. The initiative successfully engaged approximately 127 college students from ITSM, aiming to empower them by furnishing comprehensive and actionable guidance for navigating situations involving sexual violence. The webinar's content meticulously outlined essential 'do's and don'ts' for individuals who have experienced sexual violence, encompassing immediate safety protocols, clear pathways for reporting incidents, information on accessing vital support services (such as medical, psychological, and legal assistance available to the ITSM community), and an understanding of their rights. Concurrently, the webinar provided crucial insights and practical advice for third parties within the ITSM campus, such as friends, peers, and educators, on how to effectively and sensitively support a victim, appropriate methods for intervention or reporting an incident, and the critical importance of avoiding common pitfalls like victim-blaming. Through this targeted educational initiative at ITSM, which reached a significant number of students, the webinar aimed to enhance awareness of sexual violence, equip individuals with practical response strategies, and contribute significantly to fostering a campus culture at ITSM that actively prevents sexual violence and robustly supports survivors.