“Together We Act, United We Change” is the theme for this year’s national Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Sam Giordano, Title IX case manager and sexual violence prevention educator, said this year is the 24th anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
“They’re highlighting collective action when preventing sexual abuse, assault and harassment,” Giordano said. “A lot of our events are really here to empower students with the tools that they can use to navigate relationships and their personal safety.”
Title IX is hosting several on-campus events in April to raise awareness of sexual assault. Its first event, hosted alongside NSU CARE Team, is Day of Action on April 1 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., where students can learn more about self-empowerment.
“We are also going to be partnering with the Nancy J. Cotterman Center, which is Broward County’s only certified rape crisis center, and Women In Distress, which is Broward County’s domestic violence shelter,” Giordano said. “They are putting activities together for students related to self-empowerment and bystander intervention.”
The next event is the Clothesline Project from April 7 to 11. In collaboration with Residential Life and Fraternity & Sorority Life, the Clothesline Project lets students customize T-shirts with inspiring messages.
Markensley Francois, graduate assistant for Fraternity and Sorority Programming, said there were roughly 50 people a day at last year’s Clothesline Project.
“The Closeline Project is a yearly event in collaboration with the Title IX Office and Res Life, in which all three offices have designated days in which students can come write messages about sexual assault awareness,” Francois said.
On April 11, the T-shirts will be on display in the Don Taft University Center and Commons Courtyard. Title IX will also host the Clothesline Project with the Health Professions Division on April 9 from noon to 1 p.m. at the HPD Clocktower Patio.
Other events include a baseball game on April 11 and a softball game on April 17 from 6 to 7 p.m. Consent with a Side of Fries, from noon to 1 p.m. on April 28 in the UC Spine, will provide free food and teach students about consent.
Kathy Yanes Pérez, graduate assistant for Title IX, said the event Sharks Run on Empowerment, on April 14 from noon to 1 p.m. in the UC Spine, will promote empowerment for students.
“They can come and get some little treats from Dunkin’ Donuts, and also learn a little bit more about their role during Sexual Assault Awareness Month and how they can be an advocate for change,” Yanes Pérez said.
In Denim Day with Residential Life, on April 30 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the UC Shark Circle, students wear jeans in support of sexual violence survivors.
“With Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we do so much of this work throughout the year, but this is one month that we really can dedicate to spreading awareness about sexual assault prevention,” Giordano said.
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