April 2015 is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Thu, 26 Mar 2015 12:09:53 -0400

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Every 2 minutes, someone in America is sexually assaulted.

1 in 5 college women experience a sexual assault.

95% of college-aged victims know their attacker.

These are just a few statistics to highlight why this month of awareness is so very important for our campus and our greater community. We have several events this April that will honor the voices and experiences of survivors of sexual assault. Additionally, there are events that will seek to raise awareness about sexual assault and the importance of effective consent.

The event calendar is attached to this news story. Please feel free to download, mark your calendar with the events you plan on attending, and share the word with other students, staff, and faculty.

Highlighted Events:

Supporting Survivors of Sexual Assault: Cultivating a Survivor-Responsive Campus Workshop

Wednesday, April 8th from 12-1pm for UMBC students

Monday, April 13th from 4-5pm for UMBC faculty and staff

Friday, April 24th from 12-1pm for UMBC Greek Community members

All workshops are in the Women's Center

The Clothesline Project Display: Wednesday, April 8th on Commons Main Street and the RAC (at the Retriever Health and Wellness Expo) from 10am-4pm. (Opportunities to make shirts for the display will be made available on several occasions leading up to the 8th... see calendar for details)

"It Happened Here" Film Screening and Discussion: Wednesday, April 15th from 5-7pm in the Women's Center (sponsored by SJP)

Take Back the Night: Thursday, April 16th beginning at 6:00pm with a community resource fair on Commons Main Street. The survivor speak-out will begin at 6:30pm and will be followed by campus march.

Follow #UMBCtbtn on social media for updates and join the Facebook event here.

Voices Against Violence Protocol Training, Responding to Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence at UMBC on Friday, April 17th from 12-1pm in Commons 331.

After TBTN: A FORCE Monument Quilt Workshop: Friday, April 17th from 12-2pm in the Women's Center.

If you have questions about any of the listed events or about sexual assault resources, please contact Jess Myers, Women's Center Director, at jessm@umbc.edu, 410-455-2714 or Mickey Irizarry, Health Education Coordinator, at pirizarry@umbc.edu, 410-455-3752.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month is sponsored by:

The Women's Center

University Health Services Health Education

Voices Against Violence

Follow us on our facebook pages (linked above) for SAAM updates and information throughout the month of April!