Women in Letters Today, Leaders of Tomorrow
- Coree Williams
- Jan 30, 2017
- 3 min read
In promoting the platform for our class, Intimate Assault by Means of Implicit Bias, I have a very direct connection to the issue of sexual assault. I am in a sorority here on campus, Alpha Chi Omega, and we are lucky enough to support the philanthropy of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault awareness. We, as Alpha Chi Omegas, promote creating ‘Real Strong Women.’ Being a part of this organization has given me the opportunity to grow into my best self and reach heights I never thought I would here in college. The reasoning behind the slogan ‘Real Strong Women’ centers around showing women their full potential, and the development of the ‘real, strong woman she is meant to be.’ The Alpha Chi Omega Foundation was created in 1978 to help support and educate specific organizations associated with domestic violence awareness. Then, in the 1980s, Alpha Chi Omegas’ National Board recognized the rising prevalence of domestic violence and sexual assault by making it their official philanthropy nationwide. They realized how little support and aid is offered to these victims; physically, and emotionally.
Alpha Chi Omegas on campuses across the nation are educating their fellow students on the effects of domestic violence. Some examples of the girls’ direct involvement is help with rape crisis centers, emergency shelters and safe houses for women of domestic violence. Here at Utah State University, Alpha Chi Omega is unique as it empowers victims in our town specifically. Our chapter here at USU works directly with CAPSA, a local shelter here in Logan. CAPSA stands for ‘Citizens Against Physical and Sexual Abuse.’ They provide a safe and confidential shelter to reduce abuse and educate their victims in the hopes for future prevention. In the words from CAPSA’s official website, their philosophy statement is, “We believe in individual worth. We believe a person in an abusive situation has the right to understand the options available and be in control of his or her own decisions. We believe that individuals: Have the right not to be abused, Have the right to freedom from fear of abuse. Have the right to choose available options and resources. At CAPSA we imagine a world with empowered survivors, safe homes, and children living without fear, and every day we work toward our ultimate goal of ending domestic violence in our community.”
Being a part of an organization such as Alpha Chi Omega has opened my eyes to the dangers and power of what our service learning projects are all about: creating awareness for Intimate Assault as Means of Implicit Bias. One goal for the service learning project is to ‘encourage campus and community partnership to identify the best practices in preventing intimate assault’ which is what I do every day being a member of Alpha Chi Omega. Since I joined Alpha Chi Omega I have participated in numerous philanthropy events. My personal favorite was a donation drive outside a Walmart here in Logan. My sisters and I stood in front of south Walmart handing out flyers asking for donations for CAPSA. They asked for simple items such as toilet paper, cleaning supplies, nonperishable foods, and so forth. Hours later we had a trailer full of items to take to the shelter. It amazed me to see how willing the community I lived in was to help support the shelter.
Domestic Violence is a rising issue that I could drag this post on and on about, but it is an issue that is near and dear to my heart. I am so thankful to be a part of an organization such as Alpha Chi Omega with the opportunities it gives me to better myself and my community. Building real strong women inside and outside our chapter is something unique and amazing. The ultimate goal of Alpha Chi Omega, CAPSA, and our service learning project is to create more awareness and eventually end domestic violence and sexual assault. Let us all be thankful for classes like this and organizations such as these that pave the way to accomplish these goals.
Partain, Julia. "Mission & Philosophy." Citizens Against Physical and Sexual Abuse (CAPSA) | Logan, Utah. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2017
"THE STRENGTH OF MANY." Alpha Chi Omega HQ - Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2017.