Crossroads crisis center opens Moseley Center satellite office

Non-profit organization finds new on-campus home; offers resource, response services for victims of sexual assault

Ellis Harman / Managing Editor

Students looking for information on sexual assault or in need of a supportive confidante now have a new, closer place to turn. Crossroads Sexual Response and Resource Center, an Alamance County nonprofit organization that acts as an advocate for sexual assault victims, has opened a satellite office on Elon’s campus. The group also operates an office and crisis line in Burlington.

Two student workers, at least one of whom is trained to answer the crisis line, man the office on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The office can be reached by dialing 278-7273 and is located in Moseley 208.

“We want to make sure Elon students have access to information and help if they need it,” said junior Amanda Stokes, the satellite office coordinator. “Sexual assault is an issue in the community and on campus. We want students to know where to turn for information and help. We want students to have easier access to counselors and have a place to go for accessible information.”

The student volunteers in the Elon office are trained by Crossroads to respond to anything, from simple requests for information to calls from assault victims or police officers requesting help. In the case of such an emergencies the volunteer who took the call would alert a Crossroads on-call supervisor, Stokes said.

All services provided by Crossroads are confidential, and callers are not asked to reveal anything they do not want to share. Crossroads volunteers often accompany women to the hospital after a reported assault and act as their advocates and supporters.

“On-call people act as advocates for victims. They go to the hospital with them and make sure their needs are met,” Stokes said. “The police are there to do their job and solve a crime, the nurses do their job. Our job is to be there for the victim.”

Support services are not the only services offered through the satellite office. Professors can also use the office as a resource for information. Stokes said professors can also call the office to schedule presentations for classes such as Elon 101. Students are encouraged to contact the Moseley office with questions and requests for information about sexual assault or related topics.

The opening of the satellite office coincides with Sexual Assault Awareness Month. According to Stokes, this is the first time April has been nationally recognized by Congress as a month dedicated to promoting awareness of sexual assault. The opening of the Crossroads office isn’t the only event planned in recognition of the month.

Take Back the Night, a day of rallies, speakers and exhibits, is planned for the end of the month, and the Clothesline Project will be hung in Moseley Center throughout April. The display is composed of T-shirts bearing statistics about sexual assault such as “One in three victims of sexual assault is under 12.” Students interested in creating their own tribute to sexual assault victims will be able to decorate a shirt tonight at 8:30 in Moseley 221c.

Students who believe they have been or know a victim of sexual assault are encouraged to contact the Crossroads crisis line at 222-3860.