The Student Health and Counseling Center and Cross Cultural and Gender Center-Gender Programs and Services invites you to join the “Start by Believing” campaign.

Start by Believing is a public awareness campaign designed to end the cycle of silence and change the way we respond to sexual assault. Too often when victims have the courage to tell a roommate, a resident assistant, or even a professor about their sexual assault, they are doubted or even blamed for their own behavior, causing them to shut down before they get the opportunity to consider their reporting options.

When someone discloses to you, the best way to support them is to Start by Believing. If the victim/survivor chooses to report to law enforcement or Title IX, it is those agencies' responsibility to investigate — not ours. We have far more to gain, and far less to lose, by approaching survivors with this perspective.

We ask that you join us by sharing your personal commitment to start by believing. Use the link below to provide your information, a photograph and statement and we’ll send you a branded graphic to post during the month of April. Click on this link to participate:

fresnostate.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_davcV5N81GfQAFU

Need inspiration for your “Start By Believing By” statement? Check out these examples:

• Start by Believing: when someone tells me about their sexual assault.
• Start by Believing: to support survivors on their road to justice and healing.
• Start by Believing: to end the cycle of silence.

Although this social media campaign runs the whole month of April, we would appreciate you providing your information by Friday, April 9.

Start by Believing is a global campaign brought to you by End Violence Against Women International, a nonprofit organation. More information about this campaign can be found at www.startbybelieving.org.

For more information on the campaign or ways to spread the word, contact Survivor Advocate, Mindy Kates at 559.278.6796 or survivoradvocate@csufresno.edu.