Local college teaching students how to prevent and stop sexual assault

It's moving season for colleges across the country.

New friends, exciting fall classes to take and fun activities all over campus should be the only thing students have to think about, but it's not.

According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), more than half of all college sex assault happen between now through November.

Students most at risk are those in the first few months of their first and second semesters.

Many parents have started the conversation with their kids, teaching them about staying safe as they enter a new chapter in their lives.

At Northeastern University, the Office of Prevention and Education, or OPEN, piloted a program two years ago teaching bystander education to the majority of freshmen on campus.

"We teach students to identify situations that may be high risk for sexual violence occurring and we teach skills a build confidence in intervening in those situations," said Amaura Kemmerer, the director of office of prevention and education at Northeastern University.

Bystander education is taught to students during the summer orientation process. That is because back to school parties tend to happen before classes start. Up until the first six weeks of school is when students are at their most vulnerable state.

Kemmerer said the first six weeks are the highest risk for incoming students because they are in "an environment that is entirely new, where students for the first time are moving away from their parents and less monitored settings, where there is more access to alcohol and they are navigating the social scene and the way they have not before."

Sexual assault affects hundreds of thousands of people around the country every year, where every 92 seconds a person experiences sexual assault, according to RAINN.

A sexual assault survivor told Boston 25 News she chose to speak out because she wants women and men of all ages and backgrounds to know it doesn't take much for a life-changing incident to happen.

"Stick with your friends, always keep your drink right where you can see, it don't let anyone watch it -even your friends - and make sure you travel with groups whenever you go somewhere," said Melanie Bernier. "What cultural or ethnic backgrounds you're from makes no difference, everyone is at the same risk as everyone else."

It's worth noting that, despite the alarming statistics on sexual assault, many (if not most) cases go unreported.

There are many resources online for victims of sexual assault and violence. If you attend a college or university, your school may have resources available to help you or someone you know.

Help is always available, staying silent is never the only option. For more information on sexual assault prevention, visit the RAINN website here. For more information you can also call their toll-free 24/7 hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673).

Boston-based BARCC has local and online resources for victims of sexual assault.

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