Photo credit: Lila Stotland

Freshmen attended UCLA Rape Treatment presentations led by Archer alumna Liadon Soloman and Alexa Arellano, March 2, March 4 and March 13. The students learned about about sexual violence, consent and support. “Whether something happened recently or years ago, it still matters, and you can still access resources and support,” Arellano said. “We want students to know they’re never alone in this, and help is available whenever they need it.”

Content Warning: This article mentions sexual violence, sexual assault and rape. If you or anyone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, reach out to the UCLA Rape Treatment Center by calling 424-259-7208 or contact RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline by calling 800-656-HOPE or texting “HOPE” to 64673.

Sexual assault occurs every 68 seconds in the United States, and roughly 11% of those assaults are children, according to the Prairie Center Against Sexual Assault. Archer’s freshman class attended presentations March 2, March 4 and March 13 from the UCLA Rape Treatment Center about consent, sexual violence awareness and survivor resources as part of Archer’s Human Development curriculum.

The sessions were led by Prevention Program Instructors Alexa Arellano and Liadan Solomon, a 2017 Archer graduate.  Arellano said her interest in this work stems from her social work background and the lack of similar programming when she was in high school.

“Giving people a space to talk about things that might make them uncomfortable and ask questions they might not otherwise ask has always been really important to me,” Arellano said. “Being able to create that kind of space for students is a big reason why I wanted to do this work.”

Solomon first encountered the organization when she was a student at Archer. She said receiving these presentations inspired her to pursue work in this field. 

“It’s very full circle for me,” Solomon said. “The culture here influenced me to care about social justice issues, and later, when I was in college, I reconnected with the center and interned there. After graduate school, I was excited to come back and work with the prevention program because it combines my training in public health and social work.”

Ninth Grade Dean of Culture, Community and Belonging, Stephanie Ferri, said prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UCLA Rape Treatment Center would come and present to the middle and upper school students. After the COVID-19 pandemic, they resumed the presentations.

During the sessions, instructors addressed common misconceptions about sexual violence. They also discussed why survivors may not always report incidents immediately.

“There’s often an assumption that if something really impacted someone, they would immediately come forward,” Arellano said. “There are many reasons someone might be fearful to report, whether it’s fear of retaliation, fear that the person will find out or concern about how it might affect their life.”

The presentations also highlighted that anyone can be affected by sexual violence, regardless of gender or background. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, “Nationwide, 81% of women and 43% of men reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime.”

“It’s not just women who are impacted, and it’s not always a stranger who perpetrates harm,” Solomon said. “We emphasize consent and resources so students know they can feel safe in their own environments and that support is available.”

Ferri said Archer works closely with the UCLA Rape Treatment Center to ensure the presentations fit Archer’s Human Development curriculum and are appropriate for students.

“The program helps students understand consent, relationships and how to support themselves and others,” Ferri said. “We review the content and make sure it’s a good developmental fit for our students, reinforcing boundaries and effective communication.”

Lucy Bohn (’29) said the presentations help students take the topic seriously. According to the National Institute of Health, “Between 40% and 60% of all rape victims are under the age of 18, and most are adolescents.”

“It’s very important because, in teenage culture, this topic is often joked about,” Bohn said. “It’s easy to forget about the actual victims and the impact on their lives. Learning about this helps prevent harm and makes you more compassionate towards those affected.”

Instructors also explained the range of support available for survivors, from therapy services to medical resources, and emphasized that it is never too late to seek help.

“Whether something happened recently or years ago, it still matters and you can still access resources and support,” Arellano said. “We want students to know they’re never alone in this and that help is available whenever they need it.”