The fall of 2014 changed everything for two University of Michigan sorority women. One was sexually assaulted and the other had a dear friend disclose their sexual assault to her. Although they didn't know it at the time, their paths would eventually intersect as they searched for a way to make things better for themselves and their peers.

This is the story of how a group of women from a wide variety of chapters came together to start the Panhellenic Peer Educator (PPE) program.

The university's 2015 Campus Climate Survey showed that only 3.6% of students who experienced sexual assault had reported it to the university. Through the PPE program, women from every chapter on campus receive training to be effective first respondeers and point victims toward a variety of resources, regardless of their intention to report.

In this episode, you'll hear:

The three most important words you can say to a survivor.

What the program and its training includes.

How the PPE's signature event, Speak Out, has become a transformative experience for survivors.

Why some women choose not to report and the harsh realities of insular college campuses.

Support for this episode is brought to you by Shan Wu at DC Student Defense. Shan Wu provides legal services and risk management counsel to college students facing conduct or academic violations.

For the full show notes, including a number of links that provide more depth to this conversation, head over to GreekLifeToday.com.