Students Taking Action for Respect

Students Taking Action for Respect youth are working right now to make positive changes in their schools and communities and to defeat sexual and dating violence. Students Taking Action for Respect (STAR) is a program that provides youth with leadership skills and the knowledge to talk to their peers about these issues - issues which impact far too many youth. Below are just a few statistics that serve as a reality check to anyone who thinks that youth aren’t impacted by sexual and dating violence.

  • More than a million U.S. teenagers are sexually assaulted each year and nine out of ten teenagers report knowing the perpetrator.1;
  • Three out of four Texans between the ages of 16 and 24 report experiencing abuse in a dating relationship or knowing someone who has.2;
  • One-fourth of the 164 STAR students who were surveyed at the STAR Conference in June 2006 said they had witnessed some type of sexual assault on their school campus and twenty seven percent of the surveyed students had been sexually assaulted in the previous year.

Since sexual and dating violence are such issues for Texas youth, it follows that Texas youth must be a part of the solution. Over seven years ago Texas high school students told us that they wanted to be a part of that solution, and in response, TAASA established Students Taking Action for Respect (STAR). STAR is a growing community of over 400 youth leaders from across Texas who present awareness, positive youth development and prevention programming on sexual and dating violence to their peers in schools and community groups. In addition, STAR youth model respect and challenge inequality and the mistreatment of their peers in their schools and communities.

Students Taking Action for Respect is the first program of its kind in the nation. STAR teams have provided positive youth development programming to over 13,000 students in 150 communities in Texas so far. Membership in STAR provides youth with opportunities to learn more about sexual and dating violence and their impact on communities. More importantly, it allows youth to help spread the word and empower others to help speak out against this problem.

To find out more about TAASA's STAR program download the STAR brochure.

To find out more about the latest STAR news download the September 2007 newsletter here

$50 Gift Card Drawing Attention current STAR Students!
Its time for the annual spring surveys. These surveys help us create even better materials to help you as you work to end sexual and dating violence. They also allow us to measure the amazing success of the STAR program and its student members. This spring, two students who complete the survey will win a $50 Visa gift card. Winners will be notified on March 31st, the first day of Green Ribbon Week! Click here to fill out the surveys. This should only take about 15 or 20 minutes.

Youth Advisory Board
The Youth Advisory Board is made up of active STAR students who provide leadership and a youth voice for the STAR program statewide. Members of the board assist in the planning of several STAR meetings throughout the year, as well as the annual conference. In addition, STAR Youth Advisory Board members contribute to overall planning for the STAR program and its future direction. The board is selected by current Youth Advisory Board members and TAASA staff.

Youth Advisory Board current members are Callie Johnson, Alysse Luna, and Meredith Rogers.

To find out more about applying for the STAR Youth Advisory Board click here to download application.

STAR Presentation Evaluations
One of the most important aspects of STAR presentations is getting audience feedback. This will help STAR members and TAASA to understand how the presentations are impacting individuals in the community. Below are the evaluations for each portion of the STAR curriculum for audience members to complete at the conclusion of STAR presentations. It is only necessary for you to use the evaluation(s) that correspond(s) to the presentation you are giving.

Sexual Harassment Evaluation Pre     Post

Dating Violence Evaluation Pre     Post

Club/Date Rape Drug Evaluation Pre     Post

Acquaintance Rape Evaluation Pre     Post

Please return the evaluations to Tim Love by fax (512.474.6490) or mail (6200 La Calma Drive, Suite 110 Austin, TX 78752). If you have questions or need self-addressed stamped envelopes to return the evaluations, please contact Tim.

Sources

1. Smith, P. H., White, J.W., & Holland, L.J. (2003). A Longitudinal Perspective on Dating Violence Among Adolescent and College-Age Women. American Journal of Public Health, 93(7), 1104-1109.

2. American Medical Association, 1997

3. Texas Council on Family Violence, 2007