About SAASA

The Story Behind SAASA

Ray Epstein is a sophomore at Temple University, and the acting president of Student Activists Against Sexual Assault (SAASA). Growing up in Washington DC, she had always been politically active, but her commitment to the anti-sexual violence movement skyrocketted after she was sexually assaulted by her first boyfriend in the 7th grade. The institutional neglect, ignorance, and victim-blaming which she faced when coming forward convinced her that she had to do something. She began interning at a non-profit organization dedicated to helping young abuse victims in 8th grade called “Break the Cycle,” and represented them on panels and at conferences throughout her high school career, telling her story in support of various pieces of legislation. She spent her last summer interning at the Network for Victim Recovery of DC, where she studied the proposed changes to Title IX policy and was trained in trauma sensitivity. 

She came to Temple as a freshman in August of 2021, anticipating a place where she'd find like-minded individuals who were passionate about ending sexual violence. At her first club fair, Ray zoomed by every table, only searching for one organization: SAASA. She had seen their name and mission statement listed on Temple’s website, and knew the second that she had the chance she wanted to join. Ray made about three laps through the fair before giving up, accepting that there was no SAASA table. Confused, she emailed the university, and found out shortly after, SAASA had been abandoned five years ago. It was insane that at the peak of the #MeToo movement–– at a college, no less–– there was no student-driven movement to combat sexual violence. She decided to reestablish SAASA the second she read that email. 

After five years, we are finally back. We are ecstatic at the engagement and support we have been met with by our fellow Owls. We are dedicated to ending sexual violence on Temple University’s campus by educating our peers on sexual violence, prevention, and survivor’s rights.  SAASA supports survivors by walking them through the reporting process, and by connecting them with campus and local resources. Our main goal is to ensure that each student is aware of their rights under Title IX and the general law. We hope to inform students on these rights through a series of events and projects we have planned for the academic year. Thank you all for the incredible support you have given us. We are truly touched by the overwhelmingly positive response we have received from the Temple community.