SAPA launches new 24/7 chat line
Central Michigan University’s Sexual Aggression Peer Advocates has added a new way for sexual assault victims to seek help.
Launched in the beginning of October, the new SAPA chat line is another way for victims to talk confidentially in real-time with student volunteer SAPAs.
Steve Thompson, director and creator of SAPA, said there are five students on call 24/7 to respond online.
“Just from (Oct. 1) without any advertisement we’ve had two (online contacts) a day,” he said.
The program works with two laptops and an iPhone.
“The (message) comes into the iPhone, and we chat on the iPhone, and then switch it right over to a laptop," Thompson said.
Prior to the launch of the 24/7 online crisis line, SAPA Chat was only available on Wednesday and Sunday nights.
Thompson proposed the idea of expanding the hours to SAPA members last spring, who were unanimously in favor of it.
“Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, that’s what they want to do," he said.
Clinton Township sophomore David Wondero, who joined SAPA this year, said it’s always good to have a second medium.
“Somebody may not be comfortable (contacting) you on the phone,” he said.
Wondero said with SAPA around on campus, CMU is a much safer place.
The SAPAs are here to listen in a different way, Thompson said.
The new feature will also help hard-of-hearing students who are not able to communicate verbally.
“I think there’s that population too that we’ve just never been able to reach," Thompson said.
Novi junior Joe Betro said he likes the idea of a new 24/7 chat hotline.
"I think it would be beneficial for students to use since it would give people who need help counsel without awkwardly meeting anyone in person," Betro said.
Grosse Pointe freshman Maureen Andrecovich said she believes people can reach a breaking point anytime of day.
"That is why having a chat available 24/7 is a good idea, because people need help all the time," she said.
SAPA Chat was the first in the country to do online real-time, one-on-one advocacy when they started the Wednesday/Sunday chat two years ago, Thompson said.
If you are the victim of a sexual assault, you chat online at cmich.edu/SAPA.htm or call 774-CALL.
