In a new initiative titled “I Will Walk with You,” Boston University’s Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Center has created a path of footprints along Commonwealth Avenue using spray chalk to support trauma survivors.
The path was completed by SARP ambassadors and students who wished to participate in the event from Oct. 3-4.
The footprints run from the Questrom School of Business to the SARP office at 930 Comm. Ave., according to a post on the center’s Instagram. The prints are accompanied by signs that outline mission statements, supportive messages and tips for responding to and supporting survivors.
Senior Stella Jarvis, a student ambassador for SARP, said the “literal purpose” of the footsteps is to inform people that the SARP office exists and show them where to find it.
“Anytime that we do an event that is out in the student body, that is our way of trying to get students to know faces and know SARP,” Jarvis said.
Senior and SARP student ambassador Taylor Lanxon said that SARP wants to engage more students and faculty by promoting “I Will Walk with You” to the public. She said she was surprised by how few people were aware of SARP.
“Our crisis line number is on the back of the BU card, [so] you would think people would be able to learn more about us [and] share it with their friends,” Lanxon said. “Every year that’s our main goal, to get SARP out there as a resource for students.”
Lanxon said SARP brings awareness to their resources by setting up in the George Sherman Union and elsewhere on campus so students can learn more about the center’s programs. A common misconception about the Center is that they only offer service for trauma exclusively related to sexual assault, Jarvis added.
SARP works to raise awareness about interpersonal violence, advocate and promote healing for survivors, contribute to violence response efforts and respond “compassionately” to events affecting the BU community, according to its website.
The center also holds trainings for student organizations to address bystander intervention, sexual violence and SARP’s resources. Although certain groups and organizations are required to complete these training sessions, any student organization can sign up, Jarvis said.
“We’re working on making it a requirement, our first training on bystanders and being knowledgedable of sexual violence, for all first-years,” Lanxon said.
Some BU students said they have started to take notice of the footprints on the sidewalk.
Freshman Ava Shimkus said she wasn’t sure where the footprints came from at first, but she found them “really comforting,” along with the signs that accompany them after she found out what they were for.
“It felt good to know that it was an active effort that people are making to help other students feel comfortable,” Shimkus said.
Freshman Abby McNeil said talking about having resources like SARP should be “normalized on campus,” and raising awareness with the footprints is a great way to do so.
“It’s probably one of the most important things we can do,” McNeil said. “It’s making BU students more aware of the resources they have, especially for mental health and something as specific as sexual assault resources.”