Kaitlyn Ward

The first time someone snapped their fingers at me to get my attention, I was 17 years old and working at a Mexican restaurant. I’d been on my feet for six hours and had just apologized for the third time that day, for something that wasn’t my fault. That job, like many customer service roles, taught me how to handle pressure, manage difficult people and remain calm when being treated poorly.

Group projects: two words that can ruin a perfectly good syllabus. These assignments are often justified as a way to teach collaboration, communication and problem-solving skills. While they have long been a staple in college classrooms, many students say the reality doesn’t match the theory. It’s not that students are lazy or antisocial. It’s that group projects, in practice, rarely work the way professors think they will.

Trigger Warning: This news story contains content related to sexual assault, which may be distressing or upsetting to some readers. Please take care while reading. Every April, we wear teal ribbons, share infographics and post hashtags in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. While awareness campaigns have helped spark necessary conversations about consent and survivor support, they often fail to address the stereotypes and dangerous misconceptions that continue to silence survivors.