Sexual Assault Awareness Week
This week, from April 11 to April 15 is Sexual Assault Awareness Week at USC. The gravity of the problem of sexual assaults on college campuses is starting to be recognized nationwide and hopefully this week will serve as a step towards addressing the issue on our own campus. If you or someone close to you is a survivor of sexual assault, then you know how important recognizing this week is, although it can be difficult or triggering.
If you think this is not a pressing issue on our campus or that it does not apply to you personally, I implore you to revise your perspective after taking some time to educate yourself further. There are a number of events throughout the week as well as some tabling you’ll see on campus, so no matter how packed your schedule may be in the last few weeks of the semester, you’re sure to have a few moments to engage in the discussion. And if the importance of the subject matter isn’t enough to entice you to go (which I hope it is), you should know that free food will be served at all of the events.
The USC Center for Women and Men designed this week, along with a number of cosponsors (USC Women’s Student Assembly, USC Office of Religious Life, USC Veterans Resource Center, Peace Over Violence, Los Angeles Police Department, USC Interfraternity Council, and USC Graduate Student Government), to create a dialogue, promote healing, and move towards change regarding sexual assault and its impact on our campus and in our community. This week is USC’s recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which is a national campaign to raise public awareness about and educate communities on how to prevent sexual violence. (http://www.nsvrc.org/saam/about.)
I’ve gathered the information about the main events from the Sexual Assault Awareness Week facebook page, where you can go to find more details.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1763549883881722/
EDUCATION & RESOURCES TABLE
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday April 11-13, 2016 | 11AM-1PM
Trousdale Parkway
“Stop by our table for a quick bite to eat and a chance to learn more about sexual assault prevention. We’ll have educational materials, resources and activities to get you thinking about how you can create change.”
“CAMPUS SEXUAL ASSAULT” TALK AND Q&A w/ LA DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
Tuesday April 12, 2016 at 6PM
TCC 301
“Deputy District Attorney Brian Soo-Hoo will present on different types of sex crimes, facts and common myths about sexual assault, what consent is what it is not, common reactions to sexual assault, how to report sexual assault and the legal process once a sexual assault is reported.”
FAITH-SUPPORTED HEALING FROM SEXUAL TRAUMA: A PANEL DISCUSSION
Wednesday
April 13, 2016 at 6PM
TCC 301“Learn about how faith can help support the healing process for survivors and how we as a community can better respond to and prevent sexual violence together. This will be followed up by a processing workshop at the United University Church on next Wednesday, April 20th.
Panelists include:
Heather Baird-Jackson – Director of Mental Health for MiNDS, Robert Chlala – SGI Buddhists @ USC, Bailey London, MSW, MAJCS – Exec. Director of USC Hillel Foundation, Shirley Wu, MA, LMFT – Therapist at USC Center for Women and Men”
“THE HUNTING GROUND” SCREENING
Wednesday April 13, 2016 at 4PM SGM 123
“Join IFC for a screening of the groundbreaking documentary film which investigates rape on college campuses, institutional cover-ups and students fighting for justice.”
I’ve yet to see this documentary, although I have heard it is very powerful and USC is one of the campuses investigated. It also screened in February at the School of Cinematic Arts, which you can read about in the Daily Trojan article linked below.
http://dailytrojan.com/2016/02/02/the-hunting-ground-screens-at-usc/
TAKE BACK THE YAK: SCREENING AND DISCUSSION
Thursday
April 14, 2016 at 7PM
Parkside Performance Cafe
“Take Back the Yak is a video series that explores the pervasive racism, sexism, gender discrimination, and homophobia on the USC campus, as expressed through the anonymous social media forum, Yik Yak. Join us for a full screening, and a discussion of how we can create a more positive and equitable campus.”
SCREENING OF “THE INVISIBLE WAR”
Friday
April 15, 2016 at 12PM
TCC 350
“Join us for a special screening of Invisible War, an investigative documentary on increasing incidents of violent sexual assault cases in the U.S. military.”
DENIM DAY & DRIVE: WEAR DENIM, GIVE DENIM
Starts Monday APRIL 11 - APRIL 27
“Co-sponsored with Office of Equity & Diversity, USC Interfraternity Council. In honor of this year’s Denim Day and to raise awareness about homeless survivors of sexual trauma, we will be collecting your gently used denim for donation to the Downtown Women’s Center. Beginning April 11th, drop off your jeans and other denim items at one of the following on-campus locations:
LGBT RESOURCE CENTER (STU 202B)
CENTER FOR WOMEN AND MEN (ESHC 356)
CAMPUS ACTIVITIES OFFICE (SKS 410 AT RONALD TUTOR CAMPUS CENTER)
STUDENT GOVERNMENT OFFICE (TCC 224)
DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY (PSA)
OFFICE OF EQUITY AND DIVERSITY (CUB 200)”
Learn more about Denim Day at USC by visiting: https://www.facebook.com/events/1278353808844690/.
Although I’m not on campus, I’ve already seen several facebook friends change their profile pictures to recognize Sexual Assault Awareness Week and even from thousands of miles away I’ve noted a lot of promotion. The first step to creating change is raising awareness and I’m relieved we as a university are recognizing this. At the end of March there was the photo campaign promoting consent with #YesMeansYes and now a whole week of activities, put together through the collaboration of so many diverse organizations.
I hope this week is productive, informative, and cathartic for the whole Trojan Family. And remember there are resources available to you if you or someone you know is the victim of a sexual assault. You are not alone and it is not your fault. https://sarc.usc.edu/resources/
- Grace Carballo ‘17
Want more from Trojans 360?
Visit Trojans 360 on Facebook & Twitter to stay up to date with more student content!
Check out our Instagram, where we feature a week in the life of a USC student each week!
Trojans 360 is USC’s official student-run blog. Content created by students, for students.
