Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation

Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation

@thecaase.bsky.social

We are CAASE, and we're committed to building a global community free from sexual harm. www.caase.org

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Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation
@thecaase.bsky.social

Let's Chat Over Lunch is tomorrow @ noon! It's our virtual community forum where we discuss current cultural events & headlines related to sexual harm. In honor of #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth, we'll discuss best practices for supporting survivors of DV. www.caase.org/event/lcol/2026-10-28/

ow.lyLet’s Chat Over Lunch: Community ForumJoin CAASE for our monthly virtual community forum, Let’s Chat Over Lunch. At each gathering, we’ll discuss current cultural events, media, and news headlines related to sexual harm and/or social [...]
Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation
@thecaase.bsky.social

Christina Zuba, managing attorney, education advocacy at CAASE, was a guest on this episode of In the Loop. Tune in for an insightful conversation about accountability and keeping students safe. https://ow.ly/zaMI5100BKU

ow.lyWhat’s needed to more effectively respond to sexual assault cases on college campuses?Fraternities at the University of Chicago are in the spotlight again after a lawsuit was filed on October 19, alleging that a 19 year old was raped at an Alpha Delta Phi party in February.
Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation
@thecaase.bsky.social

“'It continues to be a serious issue within the community, and our larger community needs to be paying attention to it,' said Elizabeth Payne, legal director of the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation." #BlackTransLivesMatter www.chicagotribune.com/2026/10/21/t...

chicagotribune.com‘She was living her life on her own terms’: Man stands trial in slaying of trans womanA man is standing trial accused of luring a trans woman into an alley and shooting her in the head because he didn’t want anyone to know he was involved with her.
Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation
@thecaase.bsky.social

Christina Zuba, managing attorney, education advocacy, at CAASE, is especially privy to the processes that student survivors go through on campuses. For a decade, she’s provided educational advocacy and helped student survivors navigate reporting, the disciplinary process, accommodations, and more.

Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation
@thecaase.bsky.social

"Sexual and gender-based violence is solvable, but those solutions have to be demanded, and we have the numbers to demand them." 👏 https://time.com/article/2026/10/09/the-cornell-7-case-demands-more-than-outrage/

time.comThe Cornell 7 Case Demands More Than Outrage“National outrage helps shake people up enough to pay attention,” writes Tarana Burke. “But culture won't shift just because we change laws and elect better politicians.”
Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation
@thecaase.bsky.social

October's Let's Chat Over Lunch is coming up on Wednesday, 10/28! In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we'll be talking about best practices for supporting survivors of domestic violence. 💜 https://www.caase.org/event/lcol/2026-10-28/

caase.orgLet’s Chat Over Lunch: Community ForumJoin CAASE for our monthly virtual community forum, Let’s Chat Over Lunch. At each gathering, we’ll discuss current cultural events, media, and news headlines related to sexual harm and/or social [...]
Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation
@thecaase.bsky.social

"What happens after someone reports an on-campus assault is 'opaque,' according to Zuba, who said survivors are often forced to weigh whether it’s worth enduring an investigation with 'no guaranteed outcome.'” #SupportSurvivors https://ow.ly/xbsb50ZY4wy

ow.lyNo arrests in wake of reported sexual assault at University of Chicago frat house, police sayThe university issued an alert Tuesday saying “a person of interest" had been identified. But on Wednesday, the Chicago Police Police Department said no one had been taken into custody.
Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation
@thecaase.bsky.social

Surviving the Mic: Virtually Together is happening today at 3pm! This space is for survivors of sexual harm & those who support them. It includes a check-in & dialogue on current events, followed by a trauma-informed writing workshop for survivors. Learn more: www.caase.org/event/stm/2026-10-15/

caase.orgSurviving the Mic: Virtually TogetherSurviving the Mic: Virtually Together is an online gathering space for survivors of sexual harm and those who support them.
Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation
@thecaase.bsky.social

"Violent partners... know gender-based violence fosters and thrives on silence, self-doubt, and fear—factors that seem to amplify when sexual and domestic violence are intertwined" #DVAM #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth https://www.caase.org/domestic-sexual-violence/

caase.orgThe Link Between Domestic Violence and Sexual AssaultViolent partners use sexual harm as part of a pattern of abuse and control. They know gender-based violence fosters and thrives on silence, self-doubt, and fear—factors that seem to amplify when sexual and domestic violence are intertwined.
Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation
@thecaase.bsky.social

Today CAASE honors Indigenous Peoples Day. We must stand together and work towards more safety and resources for Native survivors and communities, today and every day. https://www.caase.org/advocating-for-native-survivors/

caase.orgHonoring Native American Heritage Month: Advocating for Native Survivors of Sexual Violence and Exploitation – CAASENative American women and gender-non-conforming people endure some of the highest rates of sexual violence in the United States. Learn more about this intersection of sexual harm and systemic neglect and how we can advocate for justice.
Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation
@thecaase.bsky.social

"They just don’t take the trouble to do a thorough investigation, because they don’t see the need to treat this as a serious crime. That’s the truth." #SupportSurvivors https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/10/cornell-rape-allegations-new-york-voluntary-intoxication-loophole

motherjones.comThe loophole that likely doomed the Cornell rape case before it even startedAccusers who voluntarily drink have little protection under an antiquated law many see as victim-blaming.
Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation
@thecaase.bsky.social

"Her fatal flaw, here, is that she is a victim within a culture that requires only victims, not perpetrators, to be perfect, all in the midst of extreme trauma." https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/the-campus-sexual-assault-crisis-never-went-away

currentaffairs.orgThe Campus Sexual Assault Crisis Never Went AwayAt Cornell, a district attorney dismissed an alleged rape case without ever speaking to Jane Doe—and her story is all too common.
Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation
@thecaase.bsky.social

Anika & Nicole from our Community Engagement & Policy teams attended the NCBW100 Chicago Metropolitan Chapter's event, "Missing & Murdered Black Women & Girls: The Intersection Between Gender-Based Violence, Human Trafficking & Advocacy," this weekend. An inspiring event!

Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation
@thecaase.bsky.social

Our Executive Director, Kaethe Morris Hoffer, appeared on a WTTW panel earlier this week! CAASE is the *only* organization in IL that provides free legal representation to student survivors as they seek aseeking responses from their schools after sexual assault. https://ow.ly/Qwxq50ZTIPY

ow.lyAre Universities Doing Enough for Sexual Assault Survivors? Cornell Rape Case Raises QuestionsSexual assault on college campuses is making headlines across the country. A former student at Cornell University filed a lawsuit earlier this month accusing the school and local law enforcement of mishandling her report alleging she was gang raped in a fraternity house for hours.
Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation
@thecaase.bsky.social

Our community engagement team is out connecting with survivors in our community constantly. What they're hearing is that survivors are not getting what they deserve. We can't ignore this discrepancy. Read more on our latest blog: www.caase.org/what-do-survivors-deserve/

caase.orgWhat Do Survivors Deserve?Our Community Engagement team connects with our communities that are most impacted by sexual harm. They commit dedicated time and resources to collaborating with survivors. This month, community engagement shares [...]
Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation
@thecaase.bsky.social

"The services that survivors need and deserve should be of great importance. Supporting survivors improves social spaces and empowers communities to thrive. When lawmakers sit for a roundtable, survivors should be on the agenda..." www.caase.org/what-do-survivors-deserve/ #SupportSurvivors

caase.orgWhat Do Survivors Deserve?Our Community Engagement team connects with our communities that are most impacted by sexual harm. They commit dedicated time and resources to collaborating with survivors. This month, community engag...
Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation
@thecaase.bsky.social

The Pretrial Fairness Act went into effect 3 years ago today! 🎉 Despite attempts to fearmonger & undermine it, the facts remain—the PFA prioritizes public safety & has improved the pretrial process for survivors. We're proud to have been a part of its implementation! https://ow.ly/IutU50ZM24U

ow.lyThe Pretrial Fairness Act is a Win for Survivors and Communities – CAASESurvivor advocacy organizations helped draft the Pretrial Fairness Act from a survivor-centered perspective to ensure it accounts for the needs of victims and increases community safety.
Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation
@thecaase.bsky.social

"Uber’s lawyers have argued that the women’s past traumas or use of drugs or alcohol made them unreliable narrators. They have suggested that the women consented to the encounters, or that they never happened." https://ow.ly/4Vzl50ZIlP7

ow.lyUber’s Strategy for Fighting Sexual Assault Suits: ‘What Were You Wearing?’The ride-hailing giant promised to handle legal claims “in a way that is best for the survivor.” Its lawyers are pursuing a far more aggressive strategy.
Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation
@thecaase.bsky.social

Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. One study found that over two-thirds of people who sell sex reported depression symptoms. Research shows that selling sex can be deeply traumatic. Supporting survivors is suicide prevention! https://www.caase.org/mental-health-impacts-of-sex-trade/

caase.orgThe Mental Health Impacts of the Sex TradePeople who sell sex face increased risk for mental health issues stemming from the trauma that's common in the sex trade. Here's how to address it.
Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation
@thecaase.bsky.social

The Red Zone happens from the start of the fall semester until Thanksgiving break. Make sure the students in your life know how to spot unsafe and coersive behavior. https://www.caase.org/the-red-zone/

caase.orgWhat Is the Red Zone and How Can We End It?A new school year beginning brings "The Red Zone," when college students are at a higher risk of sexual assault. This back-to-school season is an opportunity to talk to the young people in your life about why this is, supporting healthy behavior, and combating victim blaming.
Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation
@thecaase.bsky.social

" When a woman has been strangled by her partner—as Golden says Sidney has done to her (she was hospitalized)—her risk of being killed soars by 750 percent. At first glance, it seems Golden just barely skirted the statistics, by daring to live." #KeshiaGolden https://ow.ly/CxJc50ZIj9S

ow.lyKeshia Golden's Plea Deal Kept Her Out of Prison—But Don't Mistake It for JusticeKeshia Golden’s attorneys say that in October 2022, while she was eight-plus months pregnant, her then-boyfriend Calvin Sidney hit her, grabbed her hair and slammed her head against a kitchen counter. Golden grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed Sidney in the leg. Golden only intended to make him stop, she has always insisted. But she hit the femoral artery. Sidney died at a Chicago hospital. Keshia Golden was charged with first-degree murder and held in jail, where, weeks from giving birth, she was transferred to the medical unit to recover from her injuries. Four years passed. Then, on...