The content of this article is sensitive and may trigger some viewers. The following contains discussions of sexual assault/related topics. Viewer discretion is advised if you would like to proceed.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. During this month, people across the United States raised awareness about sexual violence, how to prevent it, and how to support those who are affected by it. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center chooses a campaign theme each year as a guideline for discussions and activities to focus on. This year’s focus is on asking for consent. According to the National Sexual Assault Resource Center (https://www.nsvrc.org/saam) this year’s theme is “Drawing Connections: Prevention Demands Equity.” This is the 22nd OFFICIAL year of Sexual Assault Awareness Month but we can trace it back even further in our history. Did you know that the first rape crisis center was founded in 1971? Do you know where? It was San Francisco and 7 years later it was also the location of the first Take Back the Night event in the United States.
Sexual Assault Awareness Team @ SAU
At SAU we have what we call SAAT which is the awareness team on campus. I am currently a member of SAAT as well as on the exec board as the Social Media Director/Secretary. I am also an Advocate for SAU! We raise awareness of sexual assault and domestic violence on campus and promotes healthy relationships. Our mission is to make sure all people have a safe campus free of violence.
Here is a link to our page on the SAU website if you want to know more about us. https://www.sau.edu/student-life/clubs-and-organizations/saat
Sexual Assault Advocates @ SAU
SAU has Confidential Student Advocates who can assist and support individuals who have been or are being impacted by sexual assault or domestic violence. These advocates are here to serve as a confidential person to talk to. They can also provide resources and assist in the reporting process. Our advocates are available 24/7 so one is always going to help you. We rotate who is “On Call” so that we can best serve the campus community. Like I said earlier I am a Sexual Assault Advocate along with 4 others this semester: Keirstyn J, Julia F, Hailee H, and Dakota O. There are currently 9 more being trained so next semester we will be up to 14 advocates!!!
Want to talk to a confidential advocate? Email SAAT@sau.edu and put in the subject Confidential Advocate and we will email you back with the name & number of the on call advocate who can help you.
Upcoming Events @ SAU
–Teal Tuesday: Every Tuesday during the month of April. Support us during April by wearing teal on Tuesdays and either email us or DM us on Instagram with the photo!
–Denim Day: April 26th from 9am-1pm in the Beehive(Ambrose Hall). Catch us in the Beehive with the Brotherhood of the Bees to show support on Denim Day. Denim Day campaign on a Wednesday in April in honor of Sexual Violence Awareness Month. The campaign was originally triggered by a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court where a rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans she must have helped her rapist remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim. Peace Over Violence developed the Denim Day campaign in response to this case and the activism surrounding it. Since then, wearing jeans on Denim Day has become a symbol of protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes about sexual assault.
–Defense After Dark: April 26th from 5:30-8pm starting in Madsen Hall(inside Galvin Fine Arts Center) and will end on the Rogo Patio. The night will start at 5:30pm in Madsen Hall for a self defense class and go until 7:30pm. RSVP is needed but you can still always join us at 7:30pm for the start of the Take Back the Night walk as all are welcome no RSVP. We will walk from Galvin around campus a bit and end on the Rogo patio where two of our students will read poems. The Take Back the Night walk is to raise awareness and end violence of all forms, including sexual assault, sexual abuse, dating violence, and domestic violence. Advocates will be in attendance if you need them or want to talk.
–Walk a Mile: May 3rd from 12-3pm on Campus. It is an event that is hosted in April/May to March to end violence against women all over the world. During the March people walk in heels provided by the SAAT team. Typically men do the walk but all are welcome this year we are doing 3 mini walks at 1, 2, & 3pm. Everyone is welcome to join. We have 4 sports teams so far who have agreed that their players will be in attendance!
Interested in joining SAAT or being an Advocate?
Wanting to join SAAT? Shoot an email to us at SAAT@sau.edu and ask to become a member if you are a current student. Are you a family member of a member, faculty/staff, or a community member go ahead and email us asking to be on the email list to know about our upcoming events. We also have an instagram account and our handle is saatsau.
Wanting to be an advocate? Take the course WGS-333 that we offer every spring. Augustana also offers a course in the fall.
Links for more information
- https://endsexualviolencect.org/saam/
- https://www.nsvrc.org/saam
- https://www.peaceoverviolence.org/denim-day
SEXUAL ASSAULT: If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit hotline.rainn.org.