By Joshua Inglada
The Sexual Assault Awareness and Violence Education Team has organized events this April in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
The events for SAAM officially began last Tuesday on campus due to spring break and will continue through April 30.
Kinesiology Professor and SAAVE Team Co-Chair Andrea S. Owens said that the goal of SAAM is to raise awareness, provide resources and educate everyone on the various forms of sexual assault and harassment.
“Our workshops are for both men and women. We encourage students and faculty to come so that they will learn to recognize the signs of abuse and harassment,” Owens said.
The events range from self-defense workshops, meditative exercises and informative documentaries. There will also be HIV screenings for students.
One of the planned events is Take Back the Night, which will take place on April 24, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The march is open to students, faculty, staff, administration and community members.
“We will also be having the Denim Day Resource Fair. It’ll be on next Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.,” Owens said.
There will be a presentation today titled Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationships in F5-211 from 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Associate professor of Sociology and SAAVE Team Co-Chair Eileen Ie said she hopes that people will attend these events and be more informed about the dangers of sexual assault.
“I believe that when students, staff, faculty, administrators or community members participate in an event, they will certainly learn something,” Ie said.
“Sometimes the knowledge is new. Sometimes the knowledge is a reminder of something the attendant already knows, but perhaps have forgotten or haven’t given the topic mindful attention and attending an event puts the issue of sexual assault in sharp focus.”
The SAVVE Team encourage students and community members to show their support by attending the events, inviting their friends and family to attend and promoting awareness of SAAM through social media.
“I also believe that even if a student or campus member doesn’t attend one of the events, they may see one of our many flyers or posters around campus and be gently reminded to think of the significance of sexual assault in American culture,” Ie said.
The SAAVE Team aims to continue their goal to inform students by later hosting workshops for Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October.
Owens said she recommends visiting these events on April or October if someone wishes to free themself from an abusive relationship with a significant other or a family member.
“If anyone needs help, they can visit the Women and Men’s Support Center that we have on campus.
They can speak to counselors there to get advice in order to get out of the relationship,” Owens said.