Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center

Support Safe Campuses on North Texas Giving Day

College is a fun, exciting time for young people all over the country, whether they’ve declared a major or not. From rush week to move-in day, the new fall term is a time of big adjustments and bigger dreams as college campuses come alive with all the activity.

But though you won’t read about it in a glossy college brochure (or see it featured on a sleek, mobile-friendly website), students who are beginning their first or second semester in college are the most vulnerable to sexual assault. 

Students and community members are increasingly aware that sexual violence on college campuses is a common and under-reported problem. In fact, according to the U.S. Justice Department, one in five women on college campuses have experienced sexual violence—and less than 20% of survivors report these attacks to police or campus authorities. 

At DARCC, we believe it is time for a change. We believe that every young person who attends classes on a college campus has the right to pursue their education in a safe, supportive community. We are committed to elevating change on college campuses by formally launching DARCC Collective Allies 2 Advocates (A2A) this fall. 

Through initiatives such as A2A, we are making a difference—the DARCC Difference—in the lives of survivors, and we’re creating a culture that is free from sexual violence.

The mission of A2A is to empower college students in North Texas to raise awareness about sexual assault, provide unwavering support for survivors, and champion preventive efforts both on and off campus.

“We are excited about this initiative,” says Maggie Shellene, Director of Education at DARCC, who has been key in developing the program and coordinating the A2A launch with Title IX coordinators at five Dallas-area colleges. 

As a former educator with six years of experience, Maggie joined our team at DARCC to leverage her experience in a new and impactful way. As Director of Education, Maggie uses her passion for educating others and helping survivors of sexual violence.

“Being a survivor myself, this work truly means so much to me,”she says. “During my college years, I was deeply involved with the campus rape crisis center, where I helped fundraise, create events, and served as a speaker. Those experiences ignited a lifelong commitment to supporting survivors and raising awareness.”

A2A, says Maggie, is “a transformative initiative that empowers students to make a real impact on their college campus by preventing sexual violence. We know from research and data that we can go into a campus and do presentations, but in order to change things, these initiatives have to be peer-led. That is intentional on our part.”

In many ways, A2A is a paradigm shift from passive, one-off presentations and somewhat symbolic prevention efforts to real, lasting change led by an empowered group of students committed to creating a safe, inclusive community where more young people can focus on their future. 

DARCC is launching the A2A chapters with agendas to guide the meetings, training for members, and the 2024 Allies to Advocates Leadership Summit.

Once established, DARCC will shift the locus of control to the A2A groups themselves, taking on more of an advisory role with suggestions for monthly discussions. In addition to regular meetings, the groups will also lead campus-wide outreach campaigns to raise awareness about sexual violence. 

“We are empowering these student leaders and helping them develop professional skills they can take into their future careers,” says Maggie. “Everyone has something to bring to the table, and this will help them ‘find their why’.”

DARCC is committed to fostering a culture of consent, respect, and safety on college campuses. The DARCC campus collective A2A is how we are accomplishing this vision. We are also facilitating RA training of approximately 90 RAs at Texas Women’s University this semester to prevent sexual violence and empower them to serve as trusted, compassionate allies when residents need assistance. 

DARCC is moving the needle on preventing sexual violence on college campuses. We are a community leader in serving as a resource hub for survivors, allies, and advocates in Dallas and nearby communities. This North Texas Giving Day, please consider making a gift today to support the DARCC Difference and initiatives like A2A!