This year’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month campaign is “Healing is an art. It takes time. It takes practice. It takes love. It takes a community.” WVU Peer Advocates’ annual It's On Us Spring Week of Action to raise public awareness about sexual assault and to educate campus communities and individuals is April 4-8.
The WVU Peer Advocates and Equity Assurance Prevention Team and partners from across campus will come together to offer workshops, events, social media posts, and programs for the month open to all the WVU community.
Monday, April 4 - Bagels and Boundaries
10:30 - 11:30 a.m., E-Moore Hall Commuter Lounge
Creating healthy boundaries in a relationship allows partners to feel comfortable and develop positive self-esteem. It would be best to be clear with your partner about what you want, your beliefs, and your limits. Understand and respect all partners’ boundaries, too. Join the Peer Advocates for a workshop on understanding and setting boundaries to cultivate healthy relationships. Enjoy bagels and treats with us.
Tuesday, April 5 – Sexual Assault Awareness Month Day of Action
All day, social media or anywhere
SAAM Day of Action is a time to commit to eradicating violence in our community. Sign up for an event, write a social media message of support for Mountaineer Survivors of gender-based violence and sexual misconduct, and wear teal to raise awareness.
Thursday, April 7 – Building Your Self-Care Toolbox
3 - 4p.m., Mountainlair Bluestone Room
Join the Peer Advocates for a DIY Self-Care Toolbox building session! All student survivors, advocates, supporters, and allies can design their box with healing supplies and tools for responding to triggers, taking care of themselves, and general reminders of well-being. All supplies will be provided for free.
Friday, April 8 - Do’s and Donuts of Consent Game Night
6- 8 p.m., Lincoln Hall Abe Cave
Consent is often a subject where people tend to have differing options. But for a sexual interaction to be healthy and consensual, it needs a few key ingredients. Those ingredients include healthy communication, healthy boundary setting, mutual support, trust, and the word “Yes.” Join the Peer Advocates for games, tips, and tools and learn more about the do's and don’ts of consent while enjoying a delicious free donut.
Saturday, April 9 – Walking with Survivors (RDVIC)
3 - 4 p.m. (Registration 2:30 p.m.), Spruce Street Farmers Market Pavilion (Downtown)
The RDVIC invites activists, preventionists, allies, and supporters to participate in a day of support for survivors of sexual assault. Along with supporting survivors, this event will also be dedicated to remembering the life of one of RDVICs beloved board members, Marion “Mun” Kostka.
Monday, April 11 – The Clothesline Project
10 a.m. to 3 p.m., WVU Rec Center, ST4 Lot
The Clothesline Project is a visual display of voices and experiences that often go ignored. Each shirt has been decorated by a survivor or someone impacted by sexual harm to honor their strength and provide another avenue for survivors to courageously break the silence that often surrounds their experience. This event is brought to you by RDVIC, WVU’s Research Center on Violence, and the Peer Advocates.
Tuesday, April 12 - Self-Care Fair
10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Mountainlair Green (Rain location Mountainlair Ballrooms)
The Student Government Association, in partnership with the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the WVU Peer Advocates, Well WVU, Collegiate Recovery, RDVIC, Hearts of Gold, Office of Student Success, Campus Recreation, and WVU Office of Health and Promotions, invites the WVU community to participate in a day of education, nurturing, and support.
Monday, April 18 – The Clothesline Project
10 a.m. to 3 p.m., WVU Downtown Library
The Clothesline Project is a visual display of voices and experiences that often go ignored. Each shirt has been decorated by a survivor or someone impacted by sexual harm to honor their strength and provide another avenue for survivors to courageously break the silence that often surrounds their experience. This event is brought to you by RDVIC, WVU’s Research Center on Violence, and the Peer Advocates.
Wednesday, April 27 - Denim Day Tabling Event
Noon to 2 p.m., Mountainlair Green
Denim Day is a campaign on a Wednesday each April. The campaign began in response to a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court. A rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans, she must have helped the person who raped her 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. Join the Peer Advocates in sharing the message that there is nothing anyone could ever do to deserve to experience sexual assault. On April 27th, show support for survivors and challenge victim-blaming in our community by wearing denim. Tag us on social media @WVUPeerAdvocates and use the hashtag #WVUSAAM.
Organizations or individuals who have a SAAM-related event to share should send an email to Akeya Carter-Bozman at Akeya.Carter-Bozman@mail.wvu.edu