SBA educates incoming sorority members on sexual violence prevention

Last week, two Student Bar Association representatives used their ties to the Greek community to educate incoming sorority members about the dangers of sexual assault on campus.

Joey Wilkerson, SBA's public service chair, and Georgia Turner, fundraising chair, are both Greek life alumni.

Last week, during bid day for Panhellenic sororities at the University of Louisville, Wilkerson and Turner addressed a group of about 300 freshmen women.

"We were able to command the attention of the group, which for a group of sorority girls about to sign their bids, is a big deal," Turner said.

She spoke about the importance of clarifying what consent means and the necessity for the women to look out for their sisters and intervene in high-risk situations if needed.

Bystander training is important, and SBA is encouraging more law students to become Green Dot-certified. Green Dot etc. is a nonprofit dedicated to violence prevention education. Specifically, it uses the strategy of engaging bystanders, "through awareness, education, and skills-practice, in proactive behaviors that establish intolerance of violence as the norm, as well as reactive interventions in high-risk situations," according to its website.

"We want to change the culture," Wilkerson said. "If people see something shady going on, don't be afraid to step up."

They also told the women about The Case Project, a program sponsored by Brandeis Law, the Legal Aid Society, The Center for Women and Families and the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs. The Case Project provides free legal assistance for survivors of sexual assault or intimate partner violence.

Wilkerson and Turner, who are members of Greek Law, a program at UofL that aims to bring sexual assault awareness directly into the Greek community, will also address incoming Greek life members at Indiana University Southeast.