Fostering a safe educational environment

Ensure students aren't surprised by materials that include sexual content, such as library books or classroom novels. If you are covering material about sexual violence — such as reading a book or watching a movie that contains scenes of sexual violence — consider giving students a warning about the potentially distressing content of the material. Give students the opportunity to leave the room if necessary. Adding a brief note to a syllabus about such content and available resources can make a real difference in students’ lives.