On Sept. 5, the CAPE Project hosted the Burn Your Trauma event outside Smith Hall. CAPE works to increase awareness and support victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking. Through education and inclusive programs, they strive to reduce these instances of abuse.
The event wasn’t only focused on burning trauma from abuse, but also any trauma that had been causing students stress. Participants privately wrote down their traumas on paper and burned them in a fire as part of the healing process.
“We are always here to talk because it’s important to address your trauma. CAPE is a non-judgmental support system for all students, helping to make the experience at Doane safe and inclusive for everyone,” junior Eric Halliburton, a peer educator for the CAPE project, said.
A good way for peers to support each other as life gets more stressful is to listen without judgment. Halliburton also mentioned that students can burn their traumas daily by joining supportive groups or journaling. Journaling doesn’t require setting up a fire—writing down stressors is a way to gain control of feelings and address them.
The Burn Your Trauma event was able to highlight the importance of finding a support group and creating a healthy environment to have these conversations. Healing takes time but Cape is a good resource to help the process.
