Cassandra Barrett ’19
Staff Writer
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and clubs and organizations on campus are taking action to educate the campus community and bring peace to survivors.
Can’t Touch This, a sexual assault awareness and prevention club, will have tables in the Allan W. Mund College Center lobby beginning on April 16. They will have a banner on which members of the campus community can place their handprints with teal paint to signify that they are committed to bringing an end to sexual assault and to be an ally for survivors. Those who place their handprints on the banner will receive a free Green Dot t-shirt.
During the week of April 23, the club will have another table in the same location to hand out pamphlets, buttons, magnets and key rings to bring awareness to the campus community. They will also be collecting donations for the Sexual Assault Resource and Counseling Center (SARCC) of Lebanon.
Kaitlyn Nordhoff, prevention and outreach specialist at SARCC Lebanon, will come to campus to speak on the topic of the “Me Too” movement on April 24. This will take place in the Vernon & Doris Bishop Library Atrium at 7 p.m. Following this discussion, a candlelight vigil will be held in Frederic K. Miller Chapel for the community to gather in solidarity to bring an end to sexual assault at LVC. Students and faculty will speak about sexual assault, share poems and artwork and more during this time of unity.
Wednesday, April 25, is Denim Day, a campaign developed by Peace Over Violence after the Italian Supreme Court overturned a rape conviction because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans, she must have helped her attacker remove her jeans, thus implying consent. Wearing denim on Denim Day is a symbol of protest against destructive attitudes about sexual assault, specifically as it relates to blaming the victims for their attackers’ actions.
Serena Foulk, a senior biology and Spanish double major, is the president of Can’t Touch This. She feels that it’s important for the campus community to get involved this month to educate themselves about sexual assault and to become an ally for survivors.
“Attending the events on campus will educate our LVC community about sexual assault statistics and the resources available both on campus and in the community,” Foulk said. “Additionally, the more students that get involved with the events will hopefully promote and inspire change and a safe environment at LVC.”
But Foulk and the members of Can’t Touch This aren’t the only ones involved with the organization and planning of these events, however. They are appreciative of those involved who have helped them organize this month of awareness.
“We have great resources on our campus,: Foulk said. “Brent Oberholtzer and Sally Clark have worked with our club, Can’t Touch This, to organize a vigil on April 24. I have also had the opportunity to work with SARCC Lebanon’s prevention and outreach specialist Kaitlyn Nordhoff, who has generously offered to come to campus and provide information regarding the ‘Me Too’ campaign. I have the utmost respect for everyone involved in planning these events, and am grateful for the opportunity to contribute.”
All events are open to members of the campus community and are free to attend. Registration is not required.