On April 10, CSUSM hosted an independent film called, Yeah Maybe, No by documentary filmmaker Kelly Kend in the USU Ballroom. Kend’s work has previously been featured in the Washington Post and the Huffington Post. The film came together after three years and follows a man named Blake as he tells his story of being sexually assaulted by two different men.

The film iterates that most sexual assaults are carried out by people you know or have met before, not strangers. For Blake, both of the men he was sexually assaulted by were people he had talked to or dated. For Kend, it was an older boy she went to school with.

The Q&A, after the screening, allowed students to ask Kend about her experience being the director and a survivor herself. She said, “Blake was really good at articulating things that I had experienced,” but could not say in her own words.

Alex Maravillas, a peer educator at the CSUSM LGBTQA+ Pride Center and coordinator of the event, said, “consent is an issue that people don’t really talk about so I think this was a great discussion for people to learn about what a predator is and what different perspectives people have”.

An interviewee from the film said when someone tells you their story it is not your job “to be a jury,” just listen. The biggest help to anyone who has been sexually assaulted is having someone who listens.

Not all sexual assault is rape. “The same experience isn’t going to affect everyone the same way,” said Kend.

Sexual violence advocate and educator, Christa Wencl said, “the first step to helping a victim, is believing them.”

CSUSM offers general support for issues related to stalking, sexual harassment dating/domestic violence, sexual assault and rape. Students can contact Christa Wencl by calling 760-750-4915 or by visiting the office located in Student Health & Counseling Services.