This Monday begins the Women’s Resource Center’s annual C.A.R.E. Week. C.A.R.E. stands for Concerned About Rape Education. The goal of the week is to educate our campus on sexual assault, as well as to empower survivors and those impacted by sexual assault. This is an incredibly important week for all of us because sexual assault is something that is far too prevalent, especially on college campuses. It is time for us all to take a stand against sexual assault and show that we care.
We will be starting off C.A.R.E. Week with a special 10:15pm mass in the Heights Room on Sunday night. All are invited. This will be a wonderful opportunity for us all to center ourselves in preparation for the week ahead.
Monday through Thursday, there will be tables set up during the day in McElroy and during dinner hours in Lower. These tables will have volunteers there to answer any questions you have about C.A.R.E. Week events, as well as Bystander trainers. Bystander is a program that aims to educate college students on how they can intervene if they see something that could potentially lead to sexual assault. I strongly encourage anyone interested in either topics to stop by the table and talk.
The Clothesline Project will also be held during Monday through Friday. The Clothesline Project is, “a program started in 1990 in Cape Cod, MA to address the issue of violence against women. It is a vehicle for those affected by violence to share their experiences by decorating a shirt and then hanging the shirt on a clothesline. The shirts can then be viewed by others as testimony to the problem of violence in our society.” There will be volunteers here as well who will be able to answer questions and provide resources to anyone looking for them.
On Monday at noon, “Man Up?: What Does it Mean to be a Man at BC?” will take place. This event aims to dissect what it means to be a man at BC and how masculinity plays a role on our college campus by guiding a conversation for men. Food will be provided.
On Tuesday afternoon, Rachel Lloyd, the founder and CEO of Girls and Educational and Mentoring Services (GEMS), will speak about how her sexual exploitation led to the creation of GEMS. She will also discuss sexual exploitation on both a national and global level.
At noon on Wednesday, yoga instructor Katrina Thompson will host “Healing with Yoga,” focusing on relaxation and mindfulness. This event will be geared towards survivors, friends of survivors, and anyone who is looking for peace and healing.
On Wednesday night, please join us in O’Neill Plaza for Take Back The Night. Take Back The Night is, “a nationally recognized event that seeks to reaffirm the community’s commitment to ending sexual and intimate partner violence by spreading awareness within the Boston College community. It is a night of reflection, healing and empowerment that originates from the stories of courageous survivors who demonstrate the impact of sexual violence on individuals in our society. Join us to break the silence.”
On Thursday evening, we will welcome Elizabeth Smart to speak about her own experience after being kidnapped at the age of 14. This is a part of the Second Annual Women’s Collaboration.
For more information on these events, please visit the WRC’s event page.
We also welcome you to change either your cover photo or profile picture on Facebook to show your support.
Sources:
WRC Staff
C.A.R.E. Week Collaborators
http://www.bc.edu/content/bc/offices/wrc/programs/CARE_Week.html