Sexual Trauma 101: Survive and Support

As LSU Athletics works to better understand and address the issue of sexual violence, we have partnered with STAR® (Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response®), a nonprofit sexual assault center based in Louisiana.

In order to build a community free from sexual violence, one thing that we have to do is shift to a consent culture. What is a consent culture? It’s a culture where consent is prioritized in all interactions, including sexual and non-sexual interactions. What happens when we don’t prioritize consent? People commonly experience a range of non-consensual violations that negatively impacts their lives and health, as well as community trust and well-being.

 STAR’s “Sexual Trauma 101” video explains the Continuum of Sexual Violence, which includes a range of non-consensual behaviors from the verbal to the physical. Why should we care about all forms of violation along the continuum? The most important reason is that people who perpetrate more extreme forms of sexual violence usually commit less extreme forms of boundary violations through their disregard for consent. By decreasing our tolerance for less extreme forms of harassment and violation (which are often committed publicly), we can increase accountability for non-consensual behaviors and decrease overall perpetration of sexual harassment and violence.

 Watch STAR’s Sexual Trauma 101 video to learn more. For support and guidance throughout your college career as an LSU student-athlete, reach out to your resources. It’s often the hardest step, but the most rewarding.

Sport Performance & Counseling: GeauxBeWell@lsu.edu