Today I’m not going to have time to work out, but that’s okay because I’m putting my time toward a better cause.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and tonight, Her Campus Illinois will be raising awareness, while also raising money for the Rape Advocacy, Counseling and Education Services center in Urbana.
From 8 to 11 p.m. tonight, Her Campus Illinois will be hosting a fundraiser at Cly’s. Tickets are $5 and all proceeds will benefit R.A.C.E.S. You’ll find me on the dance floor, breaking it down to the beats provided by DJs Milk & Cookies. And if I’m not dancing, then you can probably find me in the Apple photo booth taking an obnoxious amount of regrettable pictures.
While I will not be taking advantage of the $1 drink deals (because I’m staying sober until I’m 120 lbs), I will be buying raffle tickets galore for the chance to win prizes from Urban Outfitters, Victoria’s Secret PINK, Classic Tan and other great places on Campus.
Sure, this is going to be a great event and the Her Campus girls have been doing a great job hyping it up, but we all really need to focus on what is important here — the cause it is benefiting.
If you’re going out in Champaign or Urbana tonight, by making the choice to go to the Her Campus event, you’re giving back to an important organization in our community. R.A.C.E.S. provides care and support for sexual assault survivors, and in this rough financial time, R.A.C.E.S. could use our help so that it can continue to provide the best possible service to victims and their families.
Let’s be honest — there’s no real difference between Kam’s, Cly’s, The Red Lion, Firehaus, Brothers, etc. Seriously. If you’re going out in the C-U, as long as you’re with your friends, you’re going to have a good time, no matter where you are. Tonight, do something more with your social life. While you’re out having fun with your friends, do something to give back to the community you call home nine months out of the year.
This is not just a promotional event for some online magazine — far from it. Attending this event means you support sexual assault awareness and the efforts our community members give to help survivors. By donating to this cause, you’re helping to fight back against this horribly personal and invasive crime.
Going out and giving back to the community, while raising awareness for an important cause? Sounds better than anything else you’re planning on doing with your Wednesday night. So show up, donate, and support Her Campus and R.A.C.E.S.
And if those aren’t reasons enough to come, I fully plan on challenging fellow HC writer Sam Colla to a dance-off by the end of the night. If Milk & Cookies play Gold Dust, it’s on.
Still deciding what to wear,
Samantha