We’ve all seen the posters and flyers around campus. They are decorated with statistics and pictures about sexual assault on campus. Some of us have stopped to read them while others have merely grazed them and continued on with their day. For those of you who haven’t read them, let me fill you in. These flyers remind us of the topic that is often pushed beneath the rug- sexual assault and rape on campus. A topic that needs to be addressed on a national level. Seeing as that is harder to accomplish- some women on campus have taken it upon themselves to educate the SMC community and create a positive atmosphere to do so and Her Campus was thrilled to be able to sit down and talk about this upcoming event with one of the coordinators, Natalie Moore.
Her Campus: Let’s start with the basics, what is your major?
Natalie Moore: I am a media studies and math major
HC: Tell us about this event, Cinderella Saturday?
NM: Cinderella Saturday is inspired by the statistic that most sexual assaults happen between the hours of midnight and 2 AM. So on Cinderella Saturday, which is this Saturday, the women of St. Mike’s are invited to leave any party they’re attending at midnight and come to Tarrant to celebrate. There will be pizza and dodgeball and raffles and board games.
HC: Why is this event so important for women on campus?
NM: There are definitely many cases of sexual assault that go unreported at St. Mike’s, so by holding this event, we are hoping to bring awareness to the fact that assaults do happen here. Cinderella Saturday may even prevent sexual assaults from occurring on the night of the event.
HC: How did this event begin?
NM: Cinderella Saturday is part of a larger campaign to create a culture of consent on campus. My Communication for Social Good class broke up into groups and chose to tackle different issues surrounding consent in different ways. My teacher, Andrea Grayson, is very passionate about this topic and gave us the idea for Cinderella Saturday. She hopes that other schools can follow our example and Cinderella Saturdays can happen across the country. Along with this event, my group has made posters about consent and has a Facebook page called Cinderella Saturday where we have been sharing stories about consent.
HC: What is the most important message you have for women of sexual assault?
NM: Some messages my group and class are trying to convey:
Consent is a verbal yes
There is no such thing as implied consent
Consent cannot be given after just one drink
If you feel you have been assaulted, take measures to get help
Public Safety is there to help you
HC: If you could give advice to any underclassman what would it be?
NM: Don’t think that you need to “hook-up” with people to be cool. You shouldn’t feel pressured to do any sexual act you aren’t comfortable with, by your friends or by someone you are hooking up with. Not all sexual assault is rape–coercion is considered assault.
Check out the page Cinderella Saturday on Facebook and check out this amazing event this Saturday, April 23, in Tarrant!