Dear Emory community,
The Wheel’s Jan. 18 editorial sought to highlight the University’s ongoing response to sexual violence and the considerable gaps in services offered to survivors. The issues it raised are of great concern to our organization, and we agree there is much more the University and our community can do to support survivors of sexual violence.
However, the article failed to mention key services offered by the University. The article mentions that “an individual or team designated to deal with the issue,” referring to sexual violence, “could focus on it more exclusively and build more expertise over time.” However, Emory does have a team that collaborates with campus partners and community service providers to help survivors by utilizing survivor-centered, trauma-informed advocacy and prevention strategies. In fact, the Office of Respect, a dedicated team that seeks to end sexual violence through education and policy development as well as advocacy and crisis intervention, is exclusively devoted to working with survivors in this manner.
While we believe the intentions of this article are good, we must recognize it might trigger survivors without providing resources. Therefore, we have included a list of student resources with contact information.
We hope the University uses this article as an insight into the perspective of the student body, realizing that while not a complete picture of Emory’s resources for survivors, it reflects the very real feeling many have that their needs are not being met. Additionally, we encourage the University to recognize that more can be done to support and highlight existing resources, as well as motivate the institution to fill the gaps the article points to particularly at Emory’s Oxford campus.
Sincerely,
Emory Sexual Assault Peer Advocates
On-Campus Resources:
The Office of Respect 24/7 Crisis Hotline: (470) 270-5360
Emory Police Department: (404) 727-6111
Title IX Coordinator for Students, Judith Pannell: (404) 727-4079
Student Health and Counseling Services: (404) 727-7551
Counseling and Psychological Services: (404)727-7450
Emory University Hospital: (404) 712-7021
Office of Residence Life: (404) 727-4144
Individual Resident Advisors (Mandatory Reporters)
Emory Helpline: (404) 727-HELP
Student Intervention Services: (404) 430-1120
Office of Spiritual and Religious Life: http://www.religiouslife.emory.edu
Office of Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender Life: http://www.lgbt.emory.edu
Student Organizations
Emory Sexual Assault Peer Advocates: emory.sapa@gmail.com
Off-Campus Resources:
Day League (formerly the DeKalb Rape Crisis Center)
24-hour confidential crisis line: (404) 377-1428
Free counseling service: (404) 377-1429
National Dating Abuse Helpline
24-hour confidential crisis line: (866) 331-9474
Live online chat support (5 p.m. to 3 a.m. ET): http://www.loveisrespect.org
RAINN Rape, Abuse, and Incest Hotline
24-hour confidential hotline: (800) 656-HOPE
24-hour confidential online hotline: https://ohl.rainn.org/online
Crisis Text Line
24-hour confidential hotline for any crisis: Text START to 741741
Other
Georgia 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 334-2836
Atlanta Police Department: (404) 614-6544
Decatur Police Department: (404) 373-6551
Oxford Campus Resources:
Oxford Police Department: (770) 784-8377
Oxford Student Health and Counseling Services: (770) 784 - 8394
Oxford Campus Life: (770) 784-8391
Hillandale Medical Center
2801 DeKalb Medical Parkway, Lithonia GA, 30058: (404) 501-8000
Student Organizations
OxSAPA: anusha.tanneru@emory.edu
