The Belles Against Violence Office (BAVO) started a new support group for survivors and allies of interpersonal and sexual violence last Friday.
BAVO coordinator Alex Zapata said the support group, meant for both survivors and allies, will be hosted each Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Center for Faith, Action and Ministry Resource Room on the second floor of the Student Center. Zapata defined allies as “anybody that supports the cause.”
Zapata noted that the group also offers support to those helping survivors. Zapata gave the example of “Hey, my friend is dealing with this, and it's also taking a toll on me.”
The group is also there to help answer any questions about interpersonal violence and sex education. “It's really just kind of like a safe space to be able to process tough topics and ask those tough questions that you might not be able to ask elsewhere,” Zapata said.
The group is facilitated by BAVO’s student advisory committee as well as the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) of North Central Indiana.
“YWCA is a local women's shelter that assists women, men and families in general, who have gone through domestic violence or interpersonal violence. And they also assist individuals that have difficulties with substance use,” said Zapata.
Zapata pointed out the group is not led by any staff at Saint Mary’s. “I made it that way because I feel like students are kind of weary of going to groups when a staff member leads it,” Zapata said.
Instead, the support group is led by one of YWCA's counselors who specializes in domestic violence every other week. On the days the counselor would not attend, a student on the BAVO student advisory committee would lead the group.
Zapata described the BAVO office as a one-stop shop. According to the College's own website, BAVO “cultivates a culture free from violence through education, training, support, and advocacy. BAVO engages the Saint Mary’s College community to prevent and respond to sexual assault, relationship violence, and stalking.”
Zapata shared more about BAVO and her role. “Students that maybe have questions on interpersonal violence or healthy relationships, sex education ... sexual assault, they can come to me, and I am a confidential person.”
“I actually can't report to the school or to the police ... unless they ask me to help them with the reporting process, I'm not going to report anything that [students] tell me,” Zapata added.
BAVO will host an event Sept. 10 in honor of Lizzy Seeberg, a student who died by suicide before graduating.
According to Zapata, Seeberg was a freshman in 2010 who accused a Notre Dame football player of sexual assault and later died by suicide as a result of the trauma. “Her death is September 10 ... we are going to be having an event to honor her, remember her, and to help empower other survivors of sexual assault.”
The event will be held in the South Lounge in Holy Cross Hall from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Zapata said the 2015 documentary “The Hunting Ground” will be shown. Afterward, a moment of silence will be observed in Seeberg's memory.
“It's a heavy topic, but, you know, it's the truth of the matter and what happened. And I think it's a good way to remind people to empower one another and to honor those that are no longer with us,” Zapata said.
