Participation is required for all new students.
September 25 - November 3, 2023
All students new to a Columbia degree program are required to participate, and everyone else is strongly encouraged!
If you are not required but would still like to participate in the Initiative, please contact us at [email protected].
First, choose one of the options below. Then, complete and track your participation in Courseworks.
Independent Projects
Choose a project that aligns with your interests or professional development goals, to do either on your own or with a small group!
Write to [email protected] for details.
Create a three- to five-minute video featuring students from Columbia explaining why sexual respect matters. Your video must include information about at least one on-campus resource (e.g., Columbia Health’s Sexual Violence Response [SVR] or the Sexual Respect website). Write to [email protected] for details.
Are you participating in a fieldwork or clinic assignment in sexual health, crisis counseling or gender-based misconduct prevention as part of your Columbia degree program? Complete a written reflection of 500-750 words sharing what you learned and recognizing campus-based resources. Write to [email protected] for details.
Online Tutorials
Participate in a CourseWorks module about relationship violence, sexual assault, stalking and sexual harassment. Please make sure to select the Ongoing Education module in your dashboard.
These highly rated tutorials review many of the policies and themes discussed in the Pre-Orientation tutorials you completed before arriving on campus, and give more information on New York State Law.
If you are not able to access the course please email [email protected] and provide your UNI. You will receive an email confirming participation within a few days of completing this tutorial.
Online Video Collections
For this option, choose from the collections of videos below. You must log into CourseWorks to view the video collection. Be sure to mark your completion by answering the questions that follow. You will receive an email confirming participation within a few days of completion.
If you are not required to complete the Initiative but would still like to participate, please write to [email protected] and provide your UNI.
Sexual Communication/Consent
These videos are all about consent – how to ask for it, how to know when someone is saying yes (or no), and what to do when you’re unsure.
Gender/Sex
These videos examine the existence and impact of gender roles, norms and identities.
Bystander Experience
These videos defines what a prosocial bystander is and examines how to be one, including in a university community.
Resources for Healing and Resilience
Choose from books, online resources or workshops for survivors facilitated by Counseling and Psychological Services.
These resources and workshops were selected to provide survivors and their supporters with information about healing and resilience. They include many personal stories and reflections about childhood sexual abuse, anti-LBGTQ+ violence and PTSD. They also address mindfulness and offer skills for healing and recovery.
Action Steps to Get Started
If you are required to complete the Initiative, please do the following:
- Go to Courseworks
- Choose the Resources for Healing and Resilience
- Select: "I confirm that I completed Resources for Healing and Resilience"
- Indicate which of the below resources you utilized
If you are not required to complete the Initiative but would still like to participate please write to [email protected] and provide your UNI.
Readings
For students who want to learn more about healing and trauma, these books and other literature are offered for survivors and those who may be supporting survivors. You do not need to identify as a survivor to participate, and survivors are not limited to this option. After you complete this option, go to CourseWorks to confirm your participation.
Getting Free: You Can End Abuse and Take Back Your Life
In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Sourcebook: A Guide to Healing, Recovery, and Growth
The PTSD Workbook: Simple, Effective Techniques for Overcoming Traumatic Stress Symptoms
Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma
Healing the Soul After Religious Abuse: The Dark Heaven of Recovery
Allies in Healing - When the Person You Love Is a Survivor of Child Sexual Abuse
If He Is Raped: A Guidebook for Parents, Partners, Spouses, and Friends
Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others
Dear Sister: Letters from Survivors of Sexual Violence
Eight Bullets: One Woman’s Story of Surviving Anti-Gay Violence
8 Keys to Safe Trauma Recovery: Take-Charge Strategies to Empower Your Healing
Growing Beyond Survival, A Self-Help Toolkit for Managing Traumatic Stress
Hush: Moving From Silence to Healing After Childhood Sexual Abuse
I Never Told Anyone - Writings by Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
Recovery: How to Survive Sexual Assault for Women, Men, Teenagers, Their Friends and Families
Thriving in the Wake of Trauma: A Multicultural Guide, Contributions in Psychology
Witness to Resilience: Stories of Intimate Violence
The Rape Recovery Handbook: Step by Step Help for Survivors of Sexual Assault
The Sexual Healing Journey: A Guide for Survivors of Sexual Abuse, 3rd Edition
Healing Sex: A Mind-Body Approach to Healing Sexual Trauma
Letters to Survivors, Words of Comfort for Women Recovering from Rape
The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
Surviving the Silence – Black Women’s Stories of Rape
Yes Means Yes: Visions of Female Sexual Power and A World Without Rape
Color of Violence: The INCITE! Anthology
The Year After: A Memoir and The Year After Journal: Your Guide to Reclaiming Personal Power After Rape
Speaking Our Truth: Voices of Courage and Healing for Male Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Unpinned: Breaking the Hold of Sexual Assault and Abuse Written by a Male Survivor
Victims No Longer: The Classic Guide for Men Recovering from Sexual Child Abuse
Young Men of Color and the Other Side of Harm – Addressing Disparities in Our Reaction to Violence
Understanding the Sexual Betrayal of Boys and Men: The Trauma of Sexual Abuse
Healing Sexually Betrayed Men and Boys: Treatment for Sexual Abuse, Assault, and Trauma
Beyond Betrayal: Taking Charge of Your Life after Boyhood Sexual Abuse
Betrayed as Boys: Psychodynamic Treatment of Sexually Abused Men
Memories of Sexual Betrayal: Truth, Fantasy, Repression, and Dissociation
Online Resources
For students who want to learn more about healing and trauma, these online resources are offered for survivors and those who may be supporting survivors. You do not need to identify as a survivor to participate, and survivors are not limited to this option. In addition to these external resources, learn more about Columbia-specific resources that are available. After you complete this option, go to CourseWorks to confirm your participation.
Weekends of Recovery
Taking Back Ourselves takingbackourselves.org for women
Men Healing menhealing.org for men
Columbia University Support Groups
Visit www.health.columbia.edu for sexual trauma survivor groups day/time
New York City Survivors of Sexual Abuse Support Groups
Fran Dillon [email protected] for women
Rhona Kaplan [email protected] for women
Dr. Michael Singer [email protected] for men
The Anti-Violence Project
Part of the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, the New York City Anti-Violence Project provides free and confidential assistance to LGBTQ and HIV-affected individuals in New York City through direct client services, community organizing and public advocacy. The Anti-Violence Project was recognized by the White House for its work on intimate partner violence within LGBTQ & HIV-affected communities.
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
A network of frontline providers, family members, researchers, and national partners from hospitals, universities, community-based programs and centers across the United States working to increase access to services for survivors. Created by Congress in 2000 as part of the Children’s Health Act.
Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network
The nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization, RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-HOPE), online.rainn.org and rainn.org/es in partnership with more than 1,100 local-level service providers across the country. It also operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN offers programs to prevent sexual violence, help victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice.
The Breathe Network
Education and training for professionals in survivor-centered, trauma-informed care. The Network also maintains a list of organizations and books for understanding the impacts of sexual violence.
Challenging Male Supremacy Project
Facilitates long-term group work with men and responses child sexual abuse and other forms of intimate violence and analyzes the impact of male supremacy alongside the personal and social transformations needed to end sexual assault.
Womankind
Offers shelter, recovery, and renewal services to survivors of trauma including a 24-hour multilingual helpline, counseling, and community education and outreach to help women.
Safe Horizon
Safe Horizon is the nation’s leading victim assistance organization, providing support, preventing violence and promoting justice for victims of crime and abuse, their families and communities.
NYC Alliance Against Sexual Assault
The New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault strives to prevent sexual violence and reduce the harm it causes through education research and advocacy.
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence is the voice of victims and survivors. The organization aims to change society by affecting public policy and increasing understanding of the impact of domestic violence.
NYC Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence
The Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence develops policies and programs, provides training and prevention education, conducts research and evaluations, performs community outreach, and operates the New York City Family Justice Center.
MaleSurvivor
National Organization against Male Sexual Victimization–chat rooms, workshops, retreats and much more.
SNAP – Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
The largest, oldest and most active support group for women and men wounded by clergy abuse, religious authority figures (priests, ministers, bishops, deacons, nuns and others).
Stop It Now
Preventing the sexual abuse of children by mobilizing adults, families and communities to take actions that protect children before they are harmed.
Child Help USA
National Child Abuse Hotline:
1-800-4ACHILD
(1-800-422-4453)
Safer Society Foundation
Safer Society Foundation is dedicated to eliminating sexual abuse so that all of us may enjoy safer communities, healthier families and happier lives.
Sidran Institute
Helping people understand, manage and treat trauma and dissociation.
Generation Five
Ending sexual abuse in five generations.
Darkness to Light
Empowering people to prevent sexual abuse.
Jim Hopper
Great resources regarding male survivors.
Survivor’s Manual
Resource to inspire and empower both men and women survivors to lead joyful lives.
Adult Survivors of Child Abuse
For adult survivors of child abuse.
(Wo)men Speak Out
A non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating rape, sexual assault and gender violence, and educating men and women to cultivate healthy relationships and gender equity.
We Are Survivors
Provides a national platform to discuss the core issues that impact the lives of adult survivors of child abuse and neglect and to develop appropriate action steps to address these issues.
Men’s Project
A non-profit charitable men’s counseling agency providing services to men and their families. Offers great resources for male survivors in Canada.
Boys Don’t Tell
An honest and powerful memoir by advocate and survivor Randy Ellison. Recounting the author’s journey through a minefield based on his own denial, Boys Don’t Tell takes a subjective look back at a life distorted by the effects of childhood sexual abuse and offers insight on why victims find it so difficult to “just get over it and move on.”
National Association for People Abused in Childhood
Based in the UK, providing support and information for people abused in childhood.
Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust
Healing, validation and inspiration are found at the Child Abuse Survivor Monument Web Site.
Living Well
Great Resources for male survivors worldwide.
1BlueString
1BlueString is a campaign that asks guitarists to replace one of their six guitar strings with a free blue guitar string, to symbolize the one in six men who dealt with some form of sexual abuse in childhood
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center
Serves as the nation’s principle information and resource center regarding all aspects of sexual violence.
The Bristlecone Project
Portraits and Biographies of Male Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse illustrating the reality of men thriving now and showing that men can live meaningful and dignified lives.
Survivor Advocates
Survivor Advocates provide survivors and their supporters with confidential emotional support, and accompaniment and referrals to on-campus and off-campus resources. Contact a Survivor Advocate at 212-854-HELP.
Counseling and Psychological Services offers survivor-specific workshops. Please call 212-854-2878 to register for a workshop. Your call and participation in this workshop will be kept confidential.
Workshops and Events
Gain the tools to maintain healthy relationships, understand consent and bystander intervention and help people who have experienced sexual violence. More events and workshops will be announced soon!
Sexual Respect Events
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See current EventsHow to Check Your Completion Status
You can check your completion status in Courseworks. All options that you've successfully completed will have a green check next to them.
Access the CourseWorks sites corresponding to your affiliation:
- Undergraduates
- Morningside & Manhattanville Graduate and Professional Students
- CUIMC Graduate and Professional Students
You only need one green check on this page to fulfill your participation requirement for the Sexual Respect component; however, you are welcome to complete as many as you like.
As a reminder, you must complete one option from the Inclusion & Belonging component and one option from the Sexual Respect component. See more information on the Inclusion & Belonging component here.