ANYONE ANYWHERE

A Puksta Scholar’s Journey to Address Sexual Assault in Boulder

“
It wasn't my fault that I was raped. I struggled and I said no
repeatedly. I chose to take it to court, but in the end I was not
strong enough to pursue a constantly re-traumatizing trial with
no physical evidence. I survived severe PTSD, didn't sleep for
six months, nearly took my own life twice, and chose to leave
[institution] when I began waking up in my sleep sobbing.

-survivor
PTSD VICTIM BLAMING LACK OF
SUPPORT DOUBT DEPRESSION
ANXIETY DISSOCIATION SELF
DOUBT TRAUMA FEAR
H O P E L E S S N E S S I S O L AT I O N
SUBSTANCE ABUSE INSOMNIA LOSS
OF FRIENDS OR FAMILY SELF HARM
THE TRUTH BEHIND SEXUAL ASSAULT ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES
➤ 1 in 5 women will be sexually assaulted in college.
➤ 1 in 16 men will be sexually assaulted while in college.
➤ At CU Boulder (2015):
➤ 28% of females experience sexual assault in their time at CU.
➤ 6% of men experience sexual assault in their time at CU.
➤ 92% of victims of sexual assault did not make an official report to
the University or police.
NOT JUST A CU PROBLEM,
BUT A SOCIETAL PROBLEM
rape culture
misogyny
patriarchy
institutional financial interest
victim blaming
TIMELINE OVERVIEW OF MY PUKSTA JOURNEY

SANE Exam
Research and Networking
MESA Web Development
OIEC Gathering of Resources
OVA Reconnecting with stakeholders
BCH Further research and networking
2015

2016
Fall

Fall
Spring

Spring
2016

Study Abroad in Spain
Inspiration Struck
International Precedents
2017
Launching of Anyone Anywhere
Spreading the word
Gathering feedback
Looking to the future
INITIAL PROJECT IDEA: SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINER (SANE)
➤ The SANE exam includes a history of the assault that guides
medical treatment, a detailed physical exam with documentation of
injuries, and the collection of legal evidence.
➤ SANE established at Boulder Community Hospital in 2015 and is
extremely expensive to sustain and requires specific training for
nurses.
➤ Lessons Learned:
➤ Before beginning a community project, study and know your
community’s state of being within your topic.
➤ Research! Each community has their own unique and specific
state of problems and issues. Learn what your specific
community’s needs are.
POWER MAPPING
➤ Visual representations of political environment that identify stakeholders and relations of power
➤ Ongoing process of brainstorming and strategic planning
HARASS MAP AND INTERNATIONAL INSPIRATION
➤ Cairo, Egypt
➤ “We use these reports to show people the scale of the problem and to dispel myths about, and excuses for,
sexual harassment – like for example that ‘how women dress’ or ‘sexual frustration’ are reasons and excuses
for sexual harassment…our team aims to motivate a critical mass of bystanders to stand up to harassers and
create an environment where sexual harassment is not tolerated.”
HARASS MAP AND INTERNATIONAL INSPIRATION
Safecity, India HarassTracker, Lebanon

Women Under Siege, Syria Bijoya, Bangladesh

WHAT COULD THIS MODEL LOOK
LIKE IN THE U.S. OR MORE
SPECIFICALLY BOULDER, CO?
GOALS AND BENEFITS OF ANONYMOUS MAPPING
For Survivors:
➤ Official reporting is not for everyone, yet survivors still
want their story and “statistic” to count.

➤ Provides a platform for survivors to have a voice in the

issue.

➤ Connect survivors and supporters to resources in a safe

way.
➤ Just because a case of sexual assault was not processed
through the University or police, DOES NOT MEAN IT
DIDN’T HAPPEN.
GOALS AND BENEFITS OF ANONYMOUS MAPPING
For Community:
➤ Bring the issue HOME! Making the grueling statistics of
sexual assault more visible and tangible.
➤ Place pressure on communities, businesses, institutions,
and individuals to address these issues.
➤ Bring to light the prevalence of rape culture and sexual
assault on our own communities.
 sexual assault can happen to…

ANYONE ANYWHERE
…can take a stand.
Our mission:

“ANYONE ANYWHERE SEEKS TO EMPOWER THOSE WHO STAND

AGAINST SEXUAL ASSAULT. WE AIM TO CREATE A POSITIVE IMPACT
BY GIVING SURVIVORS A VOICE AND CREATING TRANSPARENCY
ABOUT THE PREVALENCE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN OUR
COMMUNITY. ULTIMATELY, OUR GOAL IS TO END RAPE CULTURE BY
VALIDATING SURVIVORS’ EXPERIENCES IN ORDER TO STOP THE
NORMALIZATION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN EVERYDAY LANGUAGE.”
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Social Media Tabling

Denver Vagina Monologues Stickers & Flyers

OUTCOMES AND IMPACTS

Platform for
Waking up empowerment
the people

Access to resources and

educational tools
Boulder Police: help in
identifying trends

Spark for student projects

and research
CREATING A SUSTAINABLE PROJECT
➤ Partnering with stakeholders and interested parties and
organizations to help sustain the Anyone Anywhere movement and
bring it to the next level
What does the next level look like?
App Development
Stories and Artwork
Spreading to other campuses and communities
➤ Seek funding to bring Anyone Anywhere to other cities, towns, and
campuses around the U.S.
 LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

Greeley, CO Denver, CO Boulder, CO Lafayette, CO Ft. Collins, CO

National Movement
IMPACT ON ME
➤ Connection to resources and networks.
➤ Utilization of technology in social justice work.
➤ Confident, empowered, and resilient.
ADVICE FOR THE FUTURE
➤ Know your community’s specific needs and issues.
➤ Sustain your networks and connections you build
along the way.
➤ Don’t be afraid to change course or ask for help.
➤ Plan for the future. Be sustainable!
“
Being a survivor doesn't mean that all the tears
will go away. I will always remember what it is
like for someone to take something so valuable
that is not theirs to take. But, what will change is
how I view it and everything that I have been
through.
-survivor