Prevention & Risk Reduction

Becoming Agents of Change – Sexual Violence Prevention

As an SF State student, you can exercise leadership and citizenship by doing your part in reducing sexual violence on campus (including sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking) and eradicating gender discrimination. By empowering yourself with educational resources on how to recognize, prevent, and respond to sexual violence and other behaviors inconsistent with our values, you can make a positive impact on the SF State community.

While men, women, and transgendered individuals are all at risk of becoming victims of sexual violence, the research shows that men comprise a disproportionately greater number of perpetrators. However, most men are not perpetrators! This means men have a key role to play in helping to promote gender equity by stepping up to end sexual violence. Men Can Stop Rape in Washington, DC, has been at the forefront of helping male college students make a difference on their campuses by “showing their strength” in different and positive ways. Check out some of their information sheets (Adobe Reader required) below:

In addition, please download our flyer, SF State Title IX By the Numbers for several key strategies for prevention that every SF Student can adopt.

Until Sexual Violence Ends – Risk Reduction Strategies

It will take the collective, concerted effort of all SF State community members to end sexual violence. Until then, sexual violence still occurs in our communities. While victims are never to be blamed for a sexual assault, there are still proactive strategies that each SF State student can adopt to reduce one’s risk for being targeted. Please consider the following:

  • Effective communication is key when it comes to negotiating consent in sexual relationships. Be clear when you mean no and when you mean yes. When in doubt, ask your partner about their wishes.
  • At night, whenever possible, please walk with others to your car, to campus buildings, etc.
  • If you must walk alone at night, elect to use well‐lit walkways, busier streets, or high‐traffic pathways as much as possible.
  • When working or studying alone at night in an isolated location, be sure to let friends, family, roommates, etc., know both your whereabouts and your estimated time for returning home.
  • At a bar or party, avoid leaving your drink unattended or accepting drinks from individuals you do not know; when possible, only purchase or consume single‐serving beverages and ask the server to open the container in your view. This minimizes the possibility of “date rape” drugs being placed in your drink. And remember that alcohol is the most commonly used “date rape” drug!
  • Minimize alcohol consumption and avoid the use of mind‐altering substances to maximize the degree of self‐control and effective decision‐making you possess. The importance of this escalates when you are in public places or with individuals you do not know.
  • Trust your instincts: if you get that “sixth sense” that something doesn’t “feel” right or you are in danger, take immediate actions to get out of the situation or to safety ASAP, and then analyze (or apologize!) later.
  • If you observe parts of campus that might pose a safety concern, e.g., lighting is not working, please contact the SF State University Police Department by calling their 24-hour non-emergency number: (415) 338-7200.
  • Leverage modern technology to help promote personal safety; there are a variety of apps for iOS and Android platforms that can help you stay connected with friends and family in real‐time. One example is the award‐winning Circle of 6 app (visit Circleof6app for info on downloading).
  • Statistics indicate that most victims are likely to be sexually assaulted or raped by somebody that they know; it’s important to remember that while we can’t go through life with our “armor” up all the time, it is prudent to regard safety as something that you should always be mindful of.