Clark University’s TOPICS Up for Nonprofit Award
By Meghan Ennes

What would you think if I told you that one in three female students will be affected by dating violence by the time she graduates college? And what if the same goes for one in six college-going males? These statistics come from TOPICS, a student group based at Clark University dedicated to providing awareness about sexual violence. TOPICS ~ which stands for Training, Outreach, Prevention, Intervention, Counseling, and Support ~ puts on events throughout the year and sponsors anonymous counseling for victims. For all their efforts to combat sexual violence, the group was nominated last April for the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network’s Collaboration Award.

TOPICS was officially nominated for their participation in the Central Massachusetts White Ribbon Campaign this past February, an effort which they shared with the Rape Crisis Center of Central Massachusetts and Males Advocating Change. TOPICS was also nominated by David Roth, an alumni of Clark and a TOPICS group mentor. Active in many good-will groups throughout Worcester, co-director Alexa Chu affectionately calls Roth their “guardian angel.” Roth himself comments, “I am so impressed with the joining together of these students with the two Worcester-based service organizations to bring college-age students into the movement to end dating and sexual violence.”

The group even has their own confidential service for Clark students affected by sexual violence. TOPICS members are trained in counseling about these issues, and are available to answer questions and offer advice. Not only do they offer counseling in person, but bypass a hotline by using strictly e-mail to communicate. “Seeking help is already taking a huge step,” comments Chu. “We find e-mail to be better than actually speaking.” TOPICS refers the non-Clark community to the Rape Crisis Center of Central Massachusetts’ hotline: (800) 870-5905.

The group puts on many events at Clark each year. Starting in October ~ dating violence awareness month ~ they sponsor a Day of Silence in solidarity with victims. Then for Valentine’s Day they sponsored the more lighthearted ‘Sex and Chocolate,’ and later held their Take Back the Night event, which featured speakers from the Rape Crisis Center and the Coalition of Women from Worcester. This past year, TOPICS had the opportunity to attend the international Men and Women as Allies conference held last April in Washington, D.C. ~ the first of its kind. “It was heavy material!” admits Chu, who attended along with her fellow TOPICS members, “But it was really worthwhile ~ there were people from all over.”

Whether or not TOPICS takes home the Collaboration Award from the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network, the group feels it’s an honor just to be recognized. Chu expressed her excitement: “It would put our name out there…but even being nominated was huge for us.” Even if TOPICS doesn’t take home the plaque and the pride, they’re certainly set apart from the competition by their dedication to the cause.