Sexual Assault Awareness
Dear Editor: April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Sexual assault refers to “sexual contact or behavior that occurs without explicit consent of the victim,” such as unwanted sexual touching, forcing a victim to perform sexual acts, attempted rape, and rape.
In Alaska, the rates of sexual assault are more than double national average, making them the highest in the U.S. While we know the only person responsible for harassment or sexual assault is the perpetrator, we all have a responsibility to look out for each other and there are steps everyone can take to create a safer community. This is similar to the way that we look out for each other on the water- if someone needs help, boats are quick to drop what they are doing to provide aid, however they can, as good Samaritans, or active bystanders.
An active bystander is someone who notices potentially unsafe situations and intervenes without posing risk to themselves. A potentially unsafe situation can look like many things, including someone making inappropriate comments, putting something in someone else’s drink, or invading someone’s personal space without their consent. No one deserves to be put in this kind of unsafe situation, and there are ways that you, as a potential bystander, can intervene.
One way to intervene is to distract from the harassment happening, which means to engage with the person harmed, while ignoring the perpetrator and refraining from speaking about the situation. This could be done by talking to them about something random while shifting your body between them and the perpetrator or “accidentally” spilling or dropping something that pulls attention from the harassment.
A second way is to delegate, meaning ask for help from a third party. This is a good option for those who feel unsafe intervening alone. When it comes to who to ask to help you intervene, it could be someone you are with, someone who also noticed the situation, or someone who works wherever you are.
Another way to intervene is to directly call out the harassment. Saying, “That was inappropriate, leave them alone,” is just one of the many ways you can directly intervene. This technique can be risky, so it is important to be mindful when using this method.
If you are unable to act in the moment, that’s okay. You can still help the person harmed by following up with them after the fact. Ask if they are okay, let them know that what happened was not okay, and see if they need any other support from you (e.g., a ride home or someone to sit with them).
Sexual assault and harassment happen often, and will likely increase with the influx of people in our town during the summer. We all want a safer community and we can do that together by being aware of what is happening around us and intervening if need be, whether in a bar or on the water. #BuildingCommunityBuildingHope
Amanda Capitummino,
MPH, MCHES
Sitkans Against Family Violence
Brave Heart Auction
Dear Editor: Brave Heart Volunteers recently held our Alaska Getaways Online Auction and we would like to thank the following businesses for donating items: Alaskan Dream Cruises donated an Inside Passage cruise for two people; Alaska Seaplanes donated two round-trip tickets to any of their destinations; Sitka Travel/Christine McGraw donated a one-night stay at vacation rental; Sitka Sea Level Adventures donated a six-hour salmon fishing trip; Captain Gary’s Sitka Adventures donated a wildlife tour; and designer Lisa Moore donated a handmade quilt.
Altogether, these generous donations raised $10,800 for BHV and we are immensely grateful to everyone, including the bidders, for their kind support. These funds will go a long way in helping us continue to champion Sitkans who are grieving, experiencing loneliness, or nearing the end of life.
We also appreciate the Daily Sitka Sentinel, KCAW Raven Radio, and the Sitka Soup for publicizing the auction, which greatly contributed to the success of our fundraiser. Thank you!
Angie DelMoral
Executive Director
Brave Heart Volunteers
Thank You for the Care
Dear Editor: I am blessed and would like to extend appreciation to the following people who came to my assistance during my fall on March 21.
Contractors of Northern Sky, Brad Russell and Cody Russell.
Greiner Mechanical (they were so kind, professional during my recovery.
EMS crew, emergency room staff at SEARHC.
Dr. Sarah Vernig, etc., the operating room crew and Dr. Pamela Gruchacz, Dr. Eric Bowton, radiology, lab, anesthesiologist, CNAs, RNs, Dr. Guillermo Espinoza, for visiting.
The prayers, food and calls were very much appreciated. If I overlooked anyone, please accept my apology. God bless you.
William Kanosh, Sitka
