April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the Center for Sexual and Relationship Violence Support Services (SRVSS) is launching several new awareness events in partnership with groups across campus. Carry the Weight partners with Athletics and Recreational Services to host a week-long (April 8-12) awareness of the “weight” carried by those who have been harmed. The goal is to increase education on how sexual assault affects survivors while participants “carry the weight” through various physical activities.
Our 1st Annual Men Against Violence Walk will take place on Monday, April 15. The “Moving Beyond Man Up” group has come together to engage men in conversations around healthy, respectful manhood. “Moving Beyond Man Up” is an initiative started Spring 2018 to bring together men across campus in conversations and action. The goal is to help men understand that there is no one-way to “be a man” and that they also play a part in preventing violence.
Plant for Change, on April 22, is a collaboration with Sorority Life to plant a tree on campus in honor of all survivors of sexual violence. The tree chosen, a white oak, symbolizes the durability of survivors and their long-lived commitment to changing culture to end sexual violence. Along with the tree will be a display of leaves that students from around campus have signed to say, “It’s On Us” to keep our community safe and support survivors.