The Orbis

In 1999, a campus organization named Hand in Hand was created to help members of the Vanderbilt community answer questions regarding sexual assault, intimate partner abuse and stalking. Its principle avenue for this goal is an intensive three-day seminar and training session titled Violence Against Women that is help twice each semester. Since its inception, the organization has trained over 200 students, faculty and staff members to counsel those needing assistance with these issues. The group operates a 24-hour hotline (936-7273) that individuals can call to receive information about medical options, legal options, emotional distress and campus resources.

The Hand in Hand manual describes its activities in the following way:

“The Hand in Hand training introduces participants to local service providers, law enforcement departments, university officials, and survivors of sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, and stalking. The purpose of the training is to provide the volunteers with an intimate knowledge of the institutional responses to Violence Against Women. It explores not only campus offices, but also community agencies that specialize in or respond to dating/domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. In addition to introducing participants to these offices and agencies, the training works to raise the level of empathy and advocacy for victims and survivors.”

“Hand in Hand currently operates as part of the outreach and educational services of Project Safe at Vanderbilt University. Project Safe is a coordinated campus-wide effort aimed at education, prevention, and response services for Vanderbilt students, faculty and staff affected by sexual assault, intimate partner abuse, and stalking. It is a program committed to activism, advocacy, and education in an effort to foster a community that is sensitive, responsive, and accountable to the needs and concerns of the victims and survivors of Violence Against Women. As Hand in Hand grows, Project Safe envisions it becoming a permanent advocacy program supported by the University.”

Vicky Basra, the Co-Director of Project Safe commented, “I truly believe that one day we will live in a society that respects and honors all people equally. For me, Hand in Hand is a place where I can see this happening,”

She continued, describing the training, “Men and women leave the training with a shift in attitude around violence against women. If one person leaves the training with a better understanding of violence against women issues, and is able to provide non-judgmental support to a friend who may be affected by violence, then we have done our jobs and the cultural shift we are working towards is happening.”

Basra reiterates the necessity for teaching students, faculty and staff methods of providing a safe space for survivors of violence to come and talk: “Women fear being blamed for the violence and the only way we can start changing this is by educating people on issues around violence against women. Through Hand in Hand, we are able to challenge risk reduction and victim blaming statements and thoughts.”

Students who attend Hand in Hand trainings are awakened to a need on campus that many people never see. For one student, Christina Baulch, the Co-Coordinator of Hand in Hand, the experience with this training fostered a passion that she has since shared with numbers of participants in this program.

“Hand in Hand really struck me, because for the first time I heard stories of women just like me – young, smart, at Vanderbilt – who had been assaulted by men they knew. The problem of violence against women was personalized to me for the first time. I was at first scared, then angry, and soon turned those feelings into a desire for activism.”

Baulch is optimistic that with programs such as Hand in Hand, the problem of violence against women will no longer be accepted as norm in our society. She shares her enthusiasm for this program with Emily Baunach, her fellow Co-Coordinator of Hand in Hand. The next opportunity to become trained through Hand in Hand is Dec. 3, 4 and 5 -— an opportunity to learn how to challenge violence against women issues and to increase participants ability to serve as a resource to the Vanderbilt and greater communities.

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