In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2011 (SAAM 2011), the Women’s Resource Center will hold a variety of events throughout the month to raise awareness of the number of sexual assaults on college campuses. This year’s national theme is “It’s Time to Get Involved.”
At PSU, two forcible sex offenses occurred in 2009, though three percent of women on college campuses throughout the nation are victims of rape during a nine month academic year, according to PSU’s website.
SAAM 2011 is a project sponsored by the Healthy Campus Initiative, the WRC, the Academic and Student Recreation Center, the Center for Student Health and Counseling and the Interpersonal Violence Task Force, among other campus departments.
“Our overall goal is to raise awareness about sexual violence on our campus and in our community. The theme for this year’s Bike Back the Night/Take Back the Night sums it up nicely,” Kari Anne McDonald, the co-chair of Take Back the Night, said.
Jessica Amo, the assistant coordinator at the WRC, and Miranda Williamson, the events coordinator at the WRC, are responsible for organizing this month’s events.
Today, the WRC will screen the film “Playground,” directed by Libby Spears, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the WRC Lounge, located in the basement of Montgomery Court. Tomorrow, Adam Bejamin, PhD, will discuss the strategies for surviving a sexual assault survivor. The lecture will begin at 2 p.m. in the WRC Lounge.
In addition, “Take Back the Night,” an annual tradition in which red flags are displayed around campus to represent sexual assaults that occur in the community, will be held on April 28 in the South Park Blocks.
“[Take Back the Night] is a really good program that helps raise awareness to red flags that exist in our relationships,” McDonald said. “We sponsor Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Take Back the Night every year because it is relevant to our mission and goals of promoting a safe and healthy campus.”
Loretta Stinson, a survivor of a 15-year relationship with an abusive partner and the author of “Little Green,” will speak at the event.
For more information about the campus events, visit www.pdx.edu/wrc/.
Events to look out for
- Today, 4:30 to 7 p.m.: Film viewing of “Playground,” followed by discussed (WRC Lounge).
- Tomorrow, 2 p.m.: “Dating a Survivor: Strategies for being a supportive partner,” a discussion led by Adam Benjamin (WRC Lounge).
- Tuesday, April 19, 4 to 6 p.m.: “Intersections: Sexual Violence and Environmental Degradation” with Jeri Williams (WRC Lounge).
- Thursday, April 21, 1 to 3 p.m.: “Human Trafficking: The Challenge of the 21st Century” with Professor Chris Carey (WRC).
- Thursday, April 28, 6 to 9 p.m.: Take Back the Night 2011 (South Park Blocks).