Sexual Assault Month by Salome Singleton
April is Sexual Assault Month and there will be several events right here on campus to help raise awareness of sexual assault. There are two groups on savannah State campus that help make sexual assault month more effective. This includes The Light House Project which is a taskforce dedicated to decreasing, with hope of eradicating Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence and Intimate Partner Violence by promoting campus awareness. Another group is Man Creating Change. Jacqueline Awe Director of Student Development states that It mobilizes men to use their strength for helping whether than hurting.
Events for sexual assault month:
Benefits Concert- will take place April, 6th 7pm-9pm where students will be performing. There will also be PSA’s throughout the concert regarding sexual assault as well as a table set up that provides information about sexual violence. Proceeds for this event will go to the Rape Crisis center and the other half will go to student scholarships.
Clothesline Project- will be held April 1st in the student union and April 3rd located in King Frazier from 11am-2pm. Students will write and draw on shirts depicting how they feel about sexual violence against women. These shirts will be hung up around campus through the month of April.
Sex Signal- Will be held April, 3 located in Kennedy Auditorium- A show that acts like a conversation that uses high energy and humor to communicate important messages about dating, consent and bystander intervention. Awe stated that last year students really enjoyed it so they decided to bring it back this year.
Self Defense Classes- First session will be held April, 11th. Other sessions are TBA.
Prevention Training- Will be April, 9th located in the Social Science Building.
Last Tuesday- Will be held April, 30th 7pm-10pm located in the Ballroom.) It’s the last Tuesday of every month. Their focus this month will be a seminar about violence against women.
Discussion- aired April, 12th on WHCJ 90.3 fm where they will discuss domestic violence and safety planning.
Awe states that sexual assault is a real problem on campus and many do not report it for several reasons such as:
* Ignorance towards rape. They don’t realize that somebody that they know can rape them. Any unwanted sexual encounter is sexual violence.
* Ashamed or embarrassed that it happened to them. Feel they had a part in it due to drinking or making irresponsible decisions and don’t even know the guy’s name.
* Don’t want any exposure.
* Feel like they have to make excuses for that person because they love them.
* Alcoholic beverages or drugs are sometimes involved. Awe states that anything done without consent or knowledge is sexual violence. Typically they wouldn’t do that. Awe stresses that there’s no excuse for anyone to violate another person. “There’s no rape outfit or rape dress saying I want to be raped today” stated Awe. She also includes she refer rape victims to the Rape Crisis center where they give free counseling.
For more information about Sexual assault month and other events go to www.nsvrc.org
Rape Crisis Center: business office- 912-233-3000