Administration reinstates hotline

Nearly three months after the suspension of Tulane’s Rape Emergency and Coping Hotline, REACH has undergone several changes, working to address organizational concerns from both the administration and advisers. The changes include a new membership and application process, a new training format, dual advisership and the help of Stephen Thompson, a sexual assault services program expert from Central Michigan University.

REACH is a student-run organization that provides support for victims of rape, sexual assault and harassment. Last semester, the administration decided to transfer the organization from the Center for Educational Resources and Counseling to the Office of Violence Prevention.

The largest changes came in the form of REACH membership applications and training. Prospective members must undergo an application process, which includes interviews, before they can attend REACH training. Training will take place later this month. According to REACH, 12 hours of intensive initial training will be reinforced by subsequent weekly meetings, which will partially function as follow-up training sessions to ensure members feel confident and comfortable answering crisis calls.

Thompson will lead the training. Brought in through Undergraduate Student Government funding, Thompson fronts the leading program for sexual assault services and is a leader on sexual aggression issues.

Thompson will serve as one of REACH’s advisers, along with Shawna Foose of the Educational Resource Center, who will focus more on clinical counseling.

“We weren’t happy with the way that it was handled,” REACH President Reese Zarreii said. She said the administration failed to seek the input of the organization’s members.

The university said they had suspended the hotline because of organizational issues.

“The numbers were a bit low and certain protocols and procedures that were set forth weren’t really being followed,” said Allan Thomas, coordinator of violence prevention and support services.

Thomas said that though there were concerns that the administration would disband the organization altogether, the suspension was always perceived as a temporary measure. When REACH members voiced their concerns to the administration and student government, Zarreii said both were receptive.

Despite the issues surrounding REACH, Zarreii said she believes the suspension of the hotline helped give the organization campus visibility while allowing the leadership to focus on what needed to be changed or reformed.
“All the changes have been really helpful,” Zarreii said.

Foose said Tulane evaluated similar programs at peer institutions in order to look at the ways REACH could be improved.

“This kind of work can be really distressing,” Foose said.

The program aims to give support to both callers and operators.

“We’re definitely trying to get the students the best hotline, the best peer advocacy group, that we possibly can,” Thomas said.

The hotline is slated to start back up in early March.