The Sexual Assault Teach In Program: Building Constructive Campus-Wide Discussions to Inspire Change

To begin to address the problem of campus sexual assault, we conducted a Teach In, an educational forum used to explore complex social problems. All students, faculty, and staff at our small liberal arts college were invited to participate. This paper summarizes our Teach In program, goals, and methods. By engaging in constructive, informed discussions, we ended the general silence about this problem. By considering multiple sources of knowledge, participants expanded their understandings of campus sexual assault. Outcome data suggest that many participants began planning constructive action. The development of collaborative relationships through the Teach In program will enhance our future work promoting awareness and safety.