Author: Maria Villegas

“It’s just a joke” What happens when sexual assault becomes the punchline?

Written by Maria Villegas on August 12, 2026. Posted in Blog. No Comments on “It’s just a joke” What happens when sexual assault becomes the punchline?

By: Sylvie Kamb, I Have The Right To Intern

“It’s just a joke”– the phrase has become commonplace across Gen Z spaces. Games like Five Nights at Epstein’s are emerging, and P Diddy has been a punchline for years. Yet, when you hear these kinds of inhumane jokes that leave a pit in your stomach, criticism is immediately followed by “don’t get all woke; we’re just kidding.” Gen Z is seemingly entranced with this type of ‘dark humor’, sexual assault being the newest punchline. But these jokes are more than just dark humor—they’ve become commonplace as a modern propaganda technique.

Who Gets Humanized?

Written by Maria Villegas on August 11, 2026. Posted in Blog. No Comments on Who Gets Humanized?

By: Siena Leis, I Have The Right To Intern

In January 2015, a 22-year-old Chanel Miller was sexually assaulted outside a Stanford fraternity party after blacking out. For years, she was publicly identified as “Emily Doe” while her case moved through trial, conviction, and a sentencing that gained national attention. While I was too young to hear about this while it happened, my mother remembers it viscerally. She was always shocked by the media’s stories, and by how insensitive they could be. In 2019, she published her memoir under her real name.

What Take Back the Night Teaches Us About Survivor Support and Campus Sexual Violence Prevention

Written by Maria Villegas on May 15, 2026. Posted in Blog.

By: Colleen Finn, I Have The Right To Intern

Assumption University’s student wellness club, PAWS, held its annual Take Back the Night event on October fifteenth. At this event, student representatives from different sports teams and clubs on campus read poems about hope and resilience to the audience. Staff from counseling was also present to support students. Then, students were invited to the podium to share their own stories.

Vintage image of a group of women holding papers that say "enforce Title IX"

The Current State of Title IX: Instability, Challenges, and the Impact on Survivors

Written by Maria Villegas on February 20, 2026. Posted in Blog. 5 Comments on The Current State of Title IX: Instability, Challenges, and the Impact on Survivors

By: Kalaya Hudziec-Leiva, I Have The Right To Intern

The current state of Title IX is characterized by significant regulatory instability following decades of political shifts. As of November 2025, educational institutions are operating under the 2020 Title IX regulations, established during President Trump’s first term in office under Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. This reversion occurred following a federal court decision on January 9, 2025, that vacated the Biden administration’s 2024 Title IX regulations nationwide.

Blue background with a title "Neurobiology of Trauma" and an drawing of a brain with a looking glass

Understanding The Neurobiology of Trauma

Written by Maria Villegas on January 28, 2026. Posted in Blog.

By Emma Heffer, I Have The Right To Intern

Understanding the neurobiology of trauma is crucial for recognizing how traumatic events affect the brain, which helps validate survivors’ experiences and inform effective healing strategies. It explains why trauma survivors may react with involuntary stress responses, such as being hypervigilant or emotionally dysregulated, and helps debunk harmful myths and reduce stigma by reframing these reactions as biological coping mechanisms rather than character flaws. This knowledge is essential for developing targeted therapies that help the brain feel safe again.

5 Consent Lessons from Bluey

Written by Maria Villegas on October 20, 2025. Posted in Blog.

By Jenae Bluhm, M.S. & CFLE-P

If you have small children, you probably know Bluey—and if you have teens, it’s likely on at your house too. This post explores Bluey consent, showing how the beloved series weaves age-appropriate lessons about boundaries and respect into everyday family scenes while keeping the show’s warm, calming vibe.

Blog banner with colorful Ghanaian textile background highlighting Fighting Stigma: a cross-cultural look at barriers survivors of sexual abuse face in Ghana and the U.S.

Barriers for Survivors: Fighting Stigma in Ghana and the U.S.

Written by Maria Villegas on September 17, 2025. Posted in Blog.

By Emma Heffer, I Have The Right To Intern

Survivors of sexual and domestic abuse face various barriers in pursuit of justice and healing – these obstacles are influenced by law, culture, and access, but many share a common root: stigma. After having the unique opportunity to work with legal and advocacy organizations in Ghana, I was provided with firsthand insight into the deep societal and physical barriers survivors face. These challenges, while unique in their distinct cultural influence, reflect a broader, global issue. This article explores the specific barriers in Ghana, their parallels with American obstructions to justice, and how we can all be a part of the fight against stigma facing survivors.

Blog title ‘The Red Zone: Understanding College Transition and Student Safety’ displayed on a college campus background

Understanding Red Zone and College Transition

Written by Maria Villegas on September 1, 2025. Posted in Blog.

By: Meghan Boudreau , I Have The Right To Intern

Picture this: You are moving into your first week as an undergraduate student. You are buzzing with excitement (or maybe that’s just the three cups of coffee you drank trying to stay awake) as you and your fellow first years begin to enter a new and foreign time of life. You tearfully say goodbye to your friends and family who traveled with you for this momentous transitional period and you are left to the whim of your RA’s and the orientation week itinerary.

The Pressure to Be “Fine”

Written by Maria Villegas on July 15, 2025. Posted in Blog.

By: Lulu Carpenter, I Have The Right To Intern.

How often do we say “I’m fine” when what we mean is: I’m scared, I’m tired, I’m hurting, or I don’t know how to ask for help? I think we’ve all said the words “I’m fine” when we feel like we’re falling apart. And most of the time, people believe us. In our society, we are taught to be polite, agreeable, and “low-maintenance.” But everyday phrases like “I’m fine” or “It’s whatever,” often become emotional masks.