SWAT - UO Sexual Wellness Advocacy Team

#DearBetsy Action End R**e on Campus (EROC) is a survivor advocacy organization dedicated to ending s*xual violence through survivor support, public education, and policy and legislative reform.

Image: Olivia Mashak

FACING PROBLEMATIC BEHAVIOR FRIDAY
Meet our beautiful second FPBF person: Molly Zaninovich. Molly Zaninovich is a sophomore from Lake Oswego, OR that is studying Planning Public Policy and Management. She has been a member of SWAT for 3 terms.
Molly faces problematic behavior by:
To face problematic behavior I use what I have learned in SWAT to educate people without lecturing at them. There are so many times that people just need gentle education to correct their problematic behavior and I believe that people are more positively responsive to people calling them in rather than calling them out.
Thank you Molly

STOP SEXUAL VIOLENCE SATURDAY
Meet our SSVS person: Wendy Purdy. Wendy Purdy is a sophomore majoring in Communication Disorders and Sciences with minors in Writing, Public Speaking, and Critical Reasoning. Wendy is from Astoria, OR and this is her first term is SWAT.
Wendy stops s*xual violence by:
"I stop s*xual violence in my life by speaking out against the notion that s*xual violence is something that just happens. I seize opportunity to educate my peers about consent, dating partner violence, and s*xual assault. Also, I advocate for survivors by believing their stories and acknowledging that perpetrators are solely responsible for their actions".
Thank you Wendy

TO END SEXUAL ASSAULT THURSDAY
Meet our TESAT person. Charles Landeros is studying psychology. He has been a member of SWAT for 5 terms.
Charlie plans To End Sexual Assault Thursday:
I fight to end s*xual assault by educating myself, listening to the experiences of survivors, and shutting down r**e culture when I see it. That means taking an active stance against problematic behaviors and bringing awareness to social institutions of power that are used to create and maintain systems of oppression.
Thank you Charlie

WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE WEDNESDAY
Meet our WAMADW person: Calynne Thomas. Calynne is a junior studying Women's and Gender studies with a Spanish minor. She is from Houston, Texas. She has been in SWAT for 2 terms.
Calynne makes a difference in disrupting r**e culture by:
"I disrupt r**e culture by calling out problematic behavior and language. By not being afraid of changing the mood of the group I'm around calling someone out for behavior or language that is oppressive. And I disrupt r**e culture by being a bad bitch and a feminist, because to me those words aren't mutually exclusive."
Thank you Calynne

TAKING DOWN PATRIARCHY TUESDAY
Meet our beautiful TDPT person: Mary Wagner. Mary Wagner is a senior from Eugene, OR that is a Women's and Gender Studies major. They have been a member of SWAT for 6 terms.
Mary combats patriarchy by:
I combat patriarchy by being my true self as a non-binary person, and seeking happiness and fulfillment in everything I do. The world tells us there are all these boxes and roles- by living authentically and surviving and celebrating my existence I am actively telling patriarchy to p**s off. Remember that survival IS a radical act and it IS enough.
Thank you Mary

SWAT is here at PSU for Take Back the Day. ❤️

MAKING SOME BIG CHANGES MONDAY
Meet our beautiful MSBCM person: Ayasha Thurman. Ayasha Thurman is a senior from Coos Bay, OR that is a Journalism Advertising major. She has been a member of SWAT for 4 years.
Ayasha makes big changes in addressing predatory behavior by:
I make changes in predatory behavior by holding other's accountable to their actions and most importantly holding myself accountable to my actions.I educate. I do not scold. I assume best intentions and believe that people can change for the better. I believe that people deserve to be understood and given the opportunity to understand how their actions can impact other people. I refuse to believe that predatory behavior is okay, and i'm always more than happy to call it out for both my benefit and the world around me.
Thank you Ayasha

MAKING SOME BIG CHANGES MONDAY
Meet our first MSBCM person: Avery Cackler. Avery Cackler is a freshman from Buxton, OR that is currently undeclared. He has been a member of SWAT for 3 terms.
Avery makes big changes in addressing predatory behavior by:
I make big changes in predatory behavior by addressing problematic behavior and thoughts before they're acted upon. I try to be a role model in the FSL community by practicing healthy s*xuality and educating my peers and fellow students. I inform others when their words or actions reflect unhealthy or predatory behavior. I also strongly believe in giving others the space and opportunity they need to speak out in situations that may be harmful to them.
Thank you Avery

I AM A SUPERHERO SUNDAY
Meet our first beautiful IAASS person: Cheyenne Meyers. Cheyenne Meyers is a 4th year from St. Helens, OR that is studying General Social Science Law Crime and Society. She has been a member of SWAT for 4 terms.
If Cheyenne had one superhero to help her end r**e culture it would be:
If I had one power, I think I would like to wipe clean certain information and replace it with new information. I would want to wipe clean the misconceptions, negative ideas, and stereotypes around s*x, and s*xuality. Reaching everyone with proper education is really important so mentors can teach people who look up to them better practices, and those who grow up can help change the world. It's a good cycle of positive idea around s*x and gives great information that could help end r**e culture.
Thank you Cheyenne

STOP SEXUAL VIOLENCE SATURDAY
Meet our first SSVS person: Zac Wolf. Zac Wolf is a senior from the Bay Area that is studying Theater. He has been a member of SWAT for 4 terms.
Zac stops s*xual violence by:
I stop s*xual violence through education and pushing for a culture shift. I engage in education not just through SWAT workshops but through my own actions and by modeling how consent is important in all aspects of our lives. I believe that we have to shift our culture and challenge not only how institutions and media support s*xual violence and r**e culture, but challenge how people support systems of oppression through their everyday interactions and beliefs. This change happens through dialogue and centering the voices of those most marginalized in our communities. I also believe in continually educating myself and never believing I know everything there is to know.
Thank you Zac