EMMIE BOESE
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — BrightHouse provides confidential support to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Reno, Rice, Kingman and Harper counties. Last year, Bright House served 740 people.
Since 2018, the non-profit organization has given an annual presentation called "Consent" to Hutchinson Community College athletes by a trained advocate.
"All of the incoming athletes we go and speak to them and one of the big things we talk about is consent," said Executive Director Sue Wray. "Also Kansas laws, because a lot of them aren't from here."
BrightHouse advocate Vince, began teaching the Consent presentation t0 HCC athletes this year.
Vince said as a former HCC student, one might speculate that sexual abuse occurs often on college campuses. Underage drinking and stalking among young adults are a few behaviors that could be connected to abuse.
"A lot of what I've seen both professionally and personally, a lot of people that age that are younger, who think they are invincible, they tend to do more things than they should," Vince said.
The presentation includes how to get and give consent, red flags to look for in a partner and how to access Bright House's resources.
BrightHouse has served young adults but Wray said as far as college students go, there is no specific way to tell whether or not they would commit an offense or be a victim.
"Our goal is to hopefully give them some wisdom or some training so hopefully they don't end up needing our services later," Wray said.
Wray said BrightHouse hopes to establish office hours on the HutchCC campus so students have more direct access and privacy.
"Even if it's just once a week, I feel like it would be good to have a consistent presence, Wray said. "We just haven't been able to make that quite happen yet."
BrightHouse employees are not court-mandated reporters but can recommend and provide support for court appointments, protection orders and other services.
More information can be found at brighthouseks.org. Their 24/7 crisis line is (620) 663-2522 and their office is located at 125 West 2nd Ave., Suite B in Hutchinson.
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