NDSU’s Student Health Service’s sexual assault prevention and advocacy coordinator, Megan Talcott is here to answer all these questions. Talcott has been serving NDSU since 2018. Her role is twofold. Firstly, she works with students who have experienced violence including sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking to help them understand their rights and access resources on campus or in the community. She also works on education and prevention efforts through programs like We Take A Stand, Take Back the Night, Denim Day, and Sexual Assault Prevention Month, among others.

Students often reach out to Talcott if they themselves or someone they know has experienced violence. Talcott talks with students about common responses to trauma or violence and provides emotional support. She also helps students understand their rights and access resources following an assault. This could include accommodations like a change in classes or housing if they no longer feel safe in class or their residence hall. Talcott can help survivors talk with faculty and staff about extensions on assignments or exams, no contact orders, Title IX and Student Conduct, and campus and community counseling resources. Her goal is to help survivors understand all of their options so that they can decide what works best for them.

Students can reach out to Talcott by emailing megan.talcott@ndsu.edu or calling 270-231-5733. They can also find more information about her role at ndsu.edu/studenthealthservice/sapa

Talcott further says that there is no right or wrong way to respond to violence like sexual violence, dating violence, or stalking. Every survivor responds differently, and every survivor’s response is valid. Students who experienced violence deserve the right to talk about their experience when they are ready, on their own terms.  They deserve to be believed and supported. If any student would like to talk about their experience, or would like support, they should know that they have people on campus who care and want to help.

Megan Talcott (she/her/hers)

Sexual Assault Prevention and Advocacy Coordinator  /  Student Health Service

NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY

Check out our previous post in this series.

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Helpful People Across NDSU Campus - Hannah Prigge
Helpful People Across NDSU Campus - Matthew Sanchez

About the Author: 

Azam Awan serves as the Marketing Graduate Assistant at NDSU’s Office of Teaching and Learning. Along with that he is also a graduate student at NDSU pursuing Masters in Business Analytics.