NYC Gazette

In recognition of National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, St. John’s University’s SOAR (Sexual violence Outreach, Awareness, and Response) Office has been working to educate its students. The campus has been adorned with T-shirts in areas like D’Angelo Center and Marillac Hall advocating against sexual-based violence. This is part of SOAR’s Clothesline Project, an initiative aimed at spreading awareness among students.

Danielle DiNapoli, LMSW, Director of Violence Prevention and SOAR, explained, “We want students to be able to recognize harm. It is in the interest of everyone. We all play a role in moving toward a campus, and a world, free of violence.”

The Clothesline Project is one aspect of SOAR’s Turn Off the Violence initiative, which also includes programs like “Coffee and Consent” sessions and “Consent is Like FRIES” events. Upcoming events include “Scoops with Score” on April 24. SOAR’s campaigns occur each October during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month with events like “Take Back the Night,” and in February during Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month with programs such as “S’more Sparks: Kindling Healthy Relationships.”

“The goal of all of these is to help students identify what a healthy relationship is,” stated Ms. DiNapoli. “What we have found is that our students are engaged in the conversations. They like to talk about dating.”

Statistics indicate a troubling trend where, according to Ms. DiNapoli, one in four women and one in 16 men experience sexual assault while in college. The SOAR office, part of St. John’s Division of Student Success, exists independently to reflect the university’s commitment to addressing sexual violence seriously. “The University takes the issue of sexual violence seriously,” Ms. DiNapoli said. “So seriously, we are our own office and not folded into another.”

For students who believe they may have experienced sexual assault, the SOAR office offers several resources, including a Campus Support Adviser and a confidential phone line staffed by Ms. DiNapoli. Students can access this service at 718-990-8484 or by email. Other emergency contacts include 718-990-6384 and the Department of Public Safety at 718-990-5252.

SOAR’s guide, Sexual Assault: You Are Not Alone, aids victims in understanding their reporting options and seeking help, including rescheduling classes or relocating housing if necessary. Additionally, trauma-informed yoga classes are available to help individuals process and heal from their experiences.

“We hold trauma in our bodies; we might not even realize we are reacting to it,” Ms. DiNapoli said. “For some, yoga is beneficial.”

As a social worker with a background in education, counseling, and the court system, Ms. DiNapoli emphasizes the importance of recognizing that all students, regardless of gender, can be victims. She elaborated, “Anyone can be a victim, and anyone can harm someone else. For example, men can endure sexual assault and might be reluctant to report it based on the shame they might feel. The reasons students have for not coming forward are also worth talking about.”