STAN Together is one of California State University, Stanislaus’ (Stan State’s), newer clubs, and has only been established for about a year. They help to provide Stan State students with education, prevention and workshops to educate their peers on sexual assault and human trafficking.
STAN Together was established using a grant that was given to the Haven Women’s Center so that they could have an organization that was run primarily by students to teach other students.
The organization often works with the Haven Women’s Center, which is the local domestic violence and sexual assault and human trafficking agency, which is one of the only agencies available in Stanislaus County.
“We thought it would be a good way for the youth to spread information and awareness among their peers.” said Miriam Moreno, who is the advisor of STAN Together and currently an educator at Haven Women’s Center.
Ethan Dawson (junior, English), current President of STAN Together, said that such organization was formed to promote what it means to be in a healthy relationship and other deep, intimate topics.
“When we formed this club, we wanted to use it as a means of promoting information about healthy relationships, challenging ideas of rape culture, and creating a dialogue about sexual abuse and domestic abuse on our campus,” Dawson said.
Dawson added by saying, “This club is about advocacy, and hopefully prevention. We want to help people in understanding that domestic violence can be more than a black eye. It can be emotional abuse, financial abuse and even stalking. It’s important to understand what constitutes as a healthy functional relationship and what constitutes as an unhealthy one.”
Braden Palma-Ayala (junior, Criminal Justice) and Mikayla Johnson (senior, Psychology) express why it is important to be involved with such organization like STAN Together.
“I wish more people joined. We are all college students, and it’s really important to be a good bystander and speak up if anyone is in trouble,” Palma-Ayala expressed.
“I think STAN Together is important because people need to know about relationship abuse and be able to receive resources for dealing with relationship abuse.” Johnson said.
STAN Together has planned events for this semester, such as Take Back the Night, which will include a keynote speaker as well as a march around campus, and Denim Day. Both of these events will be open to the community and take place at Stan State, although the time and day are still to be decided.