Bring someone in who will help you understand
Facilitator – [overlapping] Thank you so much for that. That was actually wonderful, like, the part where you said it, there’s a language barrier, to bring in someone, you know, who can be, like, the bridge [...] in communication. [...] So that’s, that is wonderful, you know, where you have different cultures and we have difference ways of talking. [...] It is easy, you know, you’re absolutely right: Bring someone in who maybe you think will help you understand better. [...]
Participant 1: I think seeing a familiar face does help, you know?
Facilitator: Exactly.
Participant 1: If you see somebody from your country is there with you, it’s sort of -
Facilitator: Yeah.
Participant 1: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Facilitator: Yeah, I think so too. Thank you so much for that. [...] You know [...] you’ll feel more comfortable seeing a familiar [...] face when you’re going through something that hard.
Participant 1 - Yeah, that was so traumatic for you.
Recommendations
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Create an inter-university and college roster of peer supporters and educators that includes international and domestic student leaders across genders.
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Sign on with a service such as KeepMe.Safe, which connects students with mental health professionals from cultures around the world and promote this service as part of university SV/SA service provision.
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When responding to a disclosure or report of sexual violence involving racially or ethnically marginalized students, provide these students with the choice to work with someone who shares their cultural or racial identity or someone who does not.
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Offer interpretation services to victims/survivors and respondents who are more comfortable communicating in a language other than English and make it known to students that this service is available.
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When responding to a disclosure or report of sexual violence, highlight that students have the choice to involve support people of their choice, including friends or family members. Offer to reach out to support people if the student prefers. This applies to the victim/survivor or complainant and respondent.