“I often look back at that time and wonder how in the world did I survive?” – Drake Bell, Quiet on Set documentary. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month. In honor of that, I wanted to do a blog post about the new documentary “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” that highlights the extensive abuse child stars faced while working with Nickelodeon Studios in the late 90’s/early 2000’s. This documentary has taken social media by storm, prompting other Nick child stars to speak out against the abuse they faced in the industry. Claims from these actors range ..read more

“They” say middle school is the worst. Puberty, big feelings, pimples, first heartbreaks, braces, peer pressure; all the typical things they think a middle schooler goes through. Sure, they suck, but what nobody talks about is how many kids in school are going through some form of abuse. The definition of abuse is to “treat (a person or an animal) with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly.” There are many different types of abuse: Physical abuse. Domestic Violence or Intimate Partner Violence. Sexual abuse. Psychological or emotional abuse. Financial or material ..read more

Profiles in Courage and Advocacy for Survivors March marks Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of women throughout history. While we reflect on the progress made in various fields, it’s essential to spotlight the women who have been at the forefront of combating domestic violence and sexual assault. Their tireless efforts have not only raised awareness but also transformed policies, institutions, and societal attitudes. Let’s take a moment to recognize these remarkable leaders and their significant contributions. Tarana Burke Tarana Burke: Tar ..read more

Exhibit Shatters Myths About Sexual Assault On March 25th, Options is kicking off Sexual Assault Awareness Month with an art exhibit in the Taylor Gallery at Fort Hays State University. This exhibit, called “What Were You Wearing,” aims to shatter the myth that sexual assault was caused by the clothing that a survivor was wearing. Each time a victim of sexual assault or rape gets asked what they were wearing during the attack, it heartlessly implies that they were responsible for the assault and could have prevented it by wearing different clothes. This sort of victim blaming drives responsi ..read more

Above Image from Business Insider Article “These hoes don’t be mad at Megan, these hoes mad at Megan’s Law” Have you heard these rap lyrics floating around on your TikTok, Twitter (or X), or Instagram feed? If you haven’t – that’s ok. We’ll explain all of the rap-world beef soon. The “Megan’s Law” line comes from an artist called Megan Thee Stallion’s song “HISS.” This line, and specifically, the law mentioned within the track, is getting quite a lot of attention on social media. Caution: the video and song features explicit language and imagery. Image from Rolling Stone Article But ..read more

When we think of the holiday season, most of us picture days full of festive lights, family gatherings, and gift-giving. Unfortunately, this is not the reality for many people around the globe and within our own communities. As we celebrate our year, it is essential to address a darker reality that often accompanies: the increase in domestic violence cases. On average, police interventions related to domestic violence rise by 20% in December, compared to other months of the year. And, one of the highest reported time periods for instances of domestic violence is New Year’s Eve and New Y ..read more

“Sometimes people we have loved and admired do horrible things. They might not do these things to us, and we only know who they were to us but that doesn’t mean they didn’t do the horrible things and to discredit the abused is a crime,” – Christina Ricci There is no road map for navigating a relationship with someone you admired or respected doing something awful to another person. On September 7, the That ’70s Show star, Danny Masterson, was sentenced by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo to 30 years to life in prison after he was convicted on two of thr ..read more

In today’s digital age, technology intertwines with every aspect of our lives. We exist in a virtual realm – with a large portion of our lives documented online. High school students are now navigating a new set of challenges that were virtually nonexistent a few decades ago – cyberbullying and cyberstalking. While the online world brings immense opportunities for learning and connection, it also poses serious threats to the mental and emotional well-being of teens. If not caught soon enough, there can be serious immediate repercussions as well as long-lasting side effects. Cyberbullying and ..read more

Within the past week, social media has been ablaze with the story of actor Jonah Hill being put on blast for text messages his ex-girlfriend, Sarah Brady, shared on Instagram. Brady is a 25-year-old professional surfer, photographer, and activist who decided to share the texts with her Instagram followers after deciding that “keeping it to myself was causing more damage to my mental health than sharing it could ever do.” In the texts, Hill is allegedly seen talking about how Brady needs to remove certain photos of herself from her social media page. And, that him asking her to do this was si ..read more

Sexual assault affects people of all walks of life, and members of the LGBTQ+ community experience disproportionate rates of sexual victimization. But all too often the experiences and voices of this community are left out of the larger narrative. In some places offering help for abuse, services are only available for survivors who are cisgender or in heterosexual relationships. As a result, the unique experiences of this community are frequently left unseen, unacknowledged, and often times, invalidated. 1 in 2 transgender people are sexually assaulted. We are currently living in a time ..read more