We would like to celebrate our love for our “sisters” and the way they have supported us through hard times. Write a letter to a “sister” or female identifying person in your life who impacted your resiliency after sexual violence. The purpose of this letter campaign is to facilitate public discourse about how women or women identifying people have helped survivors in their journey after experiencing sexual violence. We invite Utahns to submit letters to a “sister” to participate in this campaign.

Who?
Any undergraduate student in the state of Utah who has been affected by sexual violence and is a person who is 18 years or older.

Autonomy
There may be some discomfort associated with writing about a traumatic event in your life and its impact on you. It is not mandatory to share details of your story, please only write what you feel comfortable sharing.

Resources
Please keep in mind that a member of the research team is a mandatory Title IX reporter and will report to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action if an incident that falls under Title IX is disclosed.

Confidential Resources are available if you have experienced sexual violence (sexual assault, stalking, dating, family, or domestic violence). The University’s Victim-Survivor Advocates (VSAs) provide free, confidential and compassionate support services to students, faculty, and staff. You can reach them at advocate@sa.utah.edu or 801-581-7776. Additionally, the counselors at the University Counseling Center, the Women’s Resource Center, and Athletics Wellness are confidential offices and you are welcome to access their services.

The Victim-Survivor Advocacy Program and the Prevention Program with the Center for Student Wellness are confidential offices, meaning that they are not mandatory Title IX reporters. The information you provide to the CSW team will be kept confidential to the greatest extent allowed by law.
The CSW is required by law to report certain situations even if you don’t give them permission. These situations are:

• Child abuse or neglect
• Elder abuse or neglect
• Vulnerable adult abuse or neglect
• Intent to harm self or others
• A campus crime that presents a serious or continuing threat to the campus community

Additionally, if you tell them about certain other crimes that occurred on campus property or at a campus sponsored event, the CSW is required to make an anonymous statistical report to the Campus Police Department. This report does not include your name or any identifying information and is required under the federal law, The Clery Act.

Gift Card

Resources are limited and the first 20 students at the University of Utah will be lottery selected to receive a gift card.

Learn more about the background of the campaign. 

To connect about submitting a letter, contact the GBVC.