Educational Workshops
*Workshop Request Form at the Bottom of the Page*
Staff at the McCluskey Center for Violence Prevention offer a variety of educational programs for the campus community. Our emphasis is on educating, rather than training, which means we focus on long-term, on-going programs designed to engage participants in critical thinking and reflection. Through our educational programs, we encourage people to make sense of sexual violence for themselves, applying the knowledge they gain to their own unique contexts.
One of our strategies for engaging the campus community in on-going education is to facilitate workshops for student organizations, staff development, and guest lectures in classes. Any time we work with a group, we prefer to come more than once for a minimum of 1 hour each — once to present initial information, then a second time to provide space for people to make sense of and apply that information. Our workshops are always interactive and built for YOU! We will work with you to develop something based on your needs.
The center's staff can build an educational series from workshops listed below or create something new to fit the needs of your organization. These workshop descriptions are a starting place for the kinds of workshops we can facilitate.
If you are interested in having us present to your student organization, at a staff meeting or to your class, please fill out the form below. We look forward to working with you!
Most Popular Workshops for First-Year Students:
1. What is Harm?
Most educational programs on sexual violence focus on prevention from the perspective on how not to be harmed versus how not to cause harm. The vast majority of sexual violence is committed by someone known to the victim, and often, the people committing harm don't often don’t realize their behavior is harmful. To address this, we explore what constitutes harm through interactive activities and discussions.
2. Understanding History and Power to Address Sexual Violence
Sexual violence is intertwined with all forms of oppression, making it crucial to understand the context and history that shape our understanding of violence. In this workshop, we provide an overview of the historical roots of sexual violence in the U.S., and connect that history to current dynamics operating on college campuses. We identify strategies to effectively address campus sexual violence that include shifting attention to the people who cause harm, identifying harmful behaviors, and developing strategies to prevent them.
3. Repairing Harm & Restoring Relationships
Are you unsure how to repair harm you've caused in a relationship? It can be hard to admit, yet all of us have caused harm at some point. Fortunately, many people in our lives care enough about us to have these challenging yet necessary and meaningful conversations. By learning to openly listen and acknowledge when we cause harm, we can avoid perpetuating and deepening harm. In this workshop, we will explore what harmful behavior is and how to begin the process of repairing harm that has already occurred.
Want to do ALL Three Workshops?
We'd love to do these as a series with your group - if you're interested in all three, please indicate that on the form at the bottom of the page.
Reading, Respecting Boundaries, and Accepting Rejection
This workshop focuses on understanding, respecting, and navigating boundaries in various contexts, particularly in sexual and romantic relationships. Participants will explore what boundaries are, how to recognize them, and why they are crucial. Through interactive activities and roleplay, attendees will also learn strategies for accepting rejection and responding empathetically, helping to build healthier, more respectful connections.
Addressing Sexual Violence: Understanding Awareness, Response, and Prevention
Increased attention to sexual violence on college campuses over the past several years is a huge win for student activists! Unfortunately, it has also come with a fair amount of confusion and disagreement about effective strategies for addressing sexual violence. In this interactive workshop, we explore the differences between awareness, response, and prevention of violence. We will also develop strategies to stop violence from happening in the first place within our own circles of influence.
Dialogue Sessions
In this workshop, student facilitators lead a discussion diving deeper into topics such as consent, tuning-in, healthy relationships, and coercion, giving students the opportunity to have the conversations that are important to them. Through these discussion-based workshops, students create dialogue with their peers by analyzing their own life experiences and how they affect their understanding of harm. To address sensitive questions, students can participate anonymously, providing them with a safe avenue to seek answers they might find difficult to express. Students gain a deeper understanding of their own capability to cause harm, better ways to communicate with their peers or partners, and ultimately how to avoid causing harm through self-awareness and accountability.
The Unspoken Rules of Relationships
This workshop aims to help participants uncover and understand the hidden norms of dating, friendships, and more. It’s a chance to discuss and decode these nuances and enhance your communication skills on these often-taboo topics.