Note: Content warning for mentions of sexual assault and harassment.
Revolution Against Rape, often shortened to RAR, is an activist organization centered around combating sexual assault and rape culture at the University of Connecticut through advocacy and activism.
The first RAR meeting of the semester was centered around a slideshow detailing what the organization is about, what activities they do and ideas for events RAR could host. The meeting had free donuts, t-shirts and tiny dinosaurs to be less daunting since the serious subject matter of the organization can be rightfully distressing.
Grian Wizner, a seventh-semester secondary English education major and president of RAR, gave a land and labor acknowledgment before progressing with the presentation.
Attendees were asked to introduce themselves with their names, pronouns, majors and minors and what they’re most excited about in the fall.
Julia Stout, a seventh-semester human rights and political science major, introduced what RAR is, emphasizing the importance of educating oneself and the community at large through “awareness projects, discussions, community outreach and public events.”
RAR is an organization that is specific to UConn and was founded in 2012 according to Wizner. It is also a completely confidential safe space to disclose information that will not leave the room. It’s for students, by students.
RAR has advocated for survivors in legislation, such as with the UConn board of trustees in speeches they gave at their meetings.
“We fight for you so that you don’t have to be alone,” Wizner said. RAR also does rallies as highlighted by the poster board the organization made representing RAR and is working with the Women’s Center for a better sexual assault education program for first-year students, as some tend to skip through the current program and not learn anything.
The third and final main item that RAR does is fundraisers and crafts. Wizner floated the idea of a cupcake fundraiser with words written on the cupcakes about consent.
After a five-minute break, Wizner asked the attendees what they would like to see moving forward as Kyle Latella, a seventh-semester communications major, wrote the responses down.
“We want ideas of what people want,” Wizner said. Watercolor, air dry clay, scrapbooking, a potential archery trip, friendship bracelet making, creative writing, slam poetry, pumpkin painting and writing letters to UConn President Radenka Maric were some ideas that were passed around.
The e-board then asked the attendees what concerns they have on campus. UConn police officers not knowing how to address sexual assaults in a non-intrusive manner is one of them. Graffiti advocating for sexual assault and catcalling on campus were others.
Stout said she wants to print pamphlets for RAR to use, saying that “if you have something physically with you, it helps” to remember the available resources and use them. The RAR Instagram has a Linktree with resources as well. Wizner, who is also an integral role in the Rainbow Center’s Fostering Academics, Maturity, Independence, Leadership, Empowerment and Excellence (FAMILEE) mentoring program, offered to show the attendees the list of resources compiled for the mentees of that program.
The presentation ended with an Angela Davis quote, “I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.”
After the general body meeting, the attendees and e-board members chatted with one another.
“RAR is an incredibly important organization,” said Stout. “It’s sad that it has to exist, but we feel very strongly about combating sexual assault. More than anything, we want to support victim-survivors. We want to make UConn a safe place for everyone.”
Despite how daunting tackling subjects such as sexual assault and rape culture are, advocating against it and finding people who actively want to change the injustices into justice and prevent sexual assaults from happening again can be welcoming. Although it can be lonely being a survivor of sexual assault, you don’t have to be alone in the struggle. There are other people who have gone through similar things and can relate to your experiences. If people don’t talk about these experiences, how are we supposed to learn and prevent things like this from happening again?
Revolution Against Rape meets every other Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Rainbow Center program room.