Savannah Andrews is more than a 21-year-old psychology major getting ready to graduate in June.

In October 2012, Andrews introduced CSU Bakersfield to a program called The Consent Project, which aims to help educate individuals about sexual and domestic violence.

The Consent Project is not just a program to Savannah Andrews — it’s something she relates to personally. Andrews said she grew up in a household where domestic violence was a normal thing.

“As a child, I didn’t know that domestic violence wasn’t a normal thing to see in your family, but I did know that I didn’t like it because of how upset it always made me.”

Andrews said she was sexually assaulted once by a family member, when she was a young child, and once by her ex boyfriend, when she was 16.

“He was just really abusive towards my mom, my brother, and me – it was because he was on drugs and alcohol,” said Andrews.

Her experience with domestic violence and sexual assault helped fuel her passion to stand up and be an advocate of such.

“Being a survivor of sexual violence has helped fuel my advocacy for anti-sexual and anti-domestic violence,” said Andrews. “I feel like no matter how much pain or suffering a person goes through, they can always get back up and embrace their story.”

Because of her experience with violence of sexual assault, she took the initiative to bring The Consent Project to CSUB from Humboldt State University, where the project originated. Her mentor at the time, Sarah Phillips, began to work at HSU and shared the project with her.

“Talking to Sarah helped me realize that I should be doing something positive with my life and helping other people through their own personal experiences, “ said Andrews.

Phillips, herself, is not involved with The Consent Project.

“I knew that Savannah was on the path to becoming a campus leader at CSUB, and I hoped to help her by letting her know about programs that support students at other campuses,” said Phillips.

From then on, she brought the project to CSUB Counselor Coordinator, Janet Millar. They both began recruiting other faculty, staff, and students to help with the process.

“Janet was the only one promoting anti-sexual and anti-domestic violence programs before I brought The Consent Project to campus,” Andrews said.

Millar, before the project, chaired and coordinated domestic violence awareness activities the month of October and sexual assault awareness activities throughout the month of April. She believes that her input in the project has impacted and allowed people to stand up and speak up more and more about this cause.

“Savannah showed an interest in the sexual assault awareness month activities, and then after a couple of years, she found The Consent Project,” Millar said, who is still involved as an advisor to The Consent Project club.

“The Consent Project would not be successful without all the individuals who have contributed to its achievement, especially Janet Millar,” said Andrews.

The programs that are put on by The Consent Project are to educate our students, administration, staff, and faculty.

“If the Consent Project can educate at least one person, then it is considered successful to us as an organization,” said Andrews.

The Consent Project is said to be included in the educational curriculum under Deborah Jackson. The plan is for her to teach a class called Sexual Ethics and will begin with the quarter to semester conversion.

“No one is going to be able to make a difference if they don’t speak up against what is wrong,” said Andrews with such enthusiasm and passion. “So instead of being silent, speak up! Embrace your past and create a future worth living! ”