Sexual Assault Awareness Month Activities Scheduled

February 19, 2009

Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University and Hope Harbor are planning activities to recognize March as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM).

With national statistics showing one in three females and one in six males being the victim of some sort of sexual assault in their lifetime, events such as these are important to all people.

“Most people do not understand how devastating a sexual assault can be,” said Elizabeth Mohon, WKU’s sexual assault services coordinator. “It can affect the social, physical, academic, emotional and spiritual well-being of a victim. Most of the time we, as a society, mark a sexual assault as an unfortunate event and expect people to get over it quickly. We tend to not understand the impact the ultimate violation a sexual assault is to someone.” 

College campuses also present a higher risk of sexual assault. Ages 16 to 24 are four times more likely than any other age group to be assaulted.  “This is the majority of our target population, so it’s important to focus on this silent epidemic,” she said.

WKU President Gary Ransdell will participate in a proclamation signing at 12:30 p.m. March 2 at the Kentucky Library & Museum. Proclamation signings also are scheduled for Allen, Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Hart, Logan, Metcalfe, Monroe, Simpson and Warren counties.

Other Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) activities include the following:

Feb 27:  Poster contest deadline.
March 3: Healthy Days, noon to 5 p.m. at WKU’s Preston Health and Activities Center.
March 4: “Vagina Monologues” at WKU’s Garrett Conference Center. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
March 6: Deadline for essay and coloring contest.
March 19: Thursdays in Black (wear black and your teal ribbons).
March 20: Cup of Prevention, all day at Greener Groundz.
March 24: Wear Denim Day.
March 26: Take Back the Night, 6 p.m. at Warren County Justice Center.
March 31: Shine Your Light on Sexual Violence (turn on car and porch lights, or light a candle on your deck or porch).

The Clothesline Project, a visual display that bears witness to the violence against women, will be on display through March at the WKU ALIVE Center for Community Partnerships. The Clothesline Project also is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 11 at Hope Harbor; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 17 at Downing University Center; 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 17 at WKU South Campus; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 18 at WKU-Glasgow Campus; 10 a.m. to noon March 19 at Hope Harbor’s Franklin office; 10 a.m. to noon March 20at Hope Harbor’s Glasgow office.

Other proclamation signings are scheduled at 10 a.m. Feb. 23 in Allen County; 2 p.m. Feb. 23 in Hart County; 10 a.m. Feb. 24 in Barren County; 2 p.m. Feb. 24 in Monroe County; 10 a.m. Feb. 25 in Edmonson County; 8 a.m. Feb. 26 in Simpson County; 9 a.m. Feb. 26 in Barren County; 10 a.m. Feb. 27 in Metcalfe County; 2 p.m. March 2 in Warren County; and 6 p.m. March 3 in Logan County.

“We are very excited to be working with community agencies, MADD, Hope Harbor and other WKU departments such as Health Services, Women’s Studies, Telecommunications, along with Counseling and Testing Center,” Mohon said. “I myself am very proud to be a part of this great movement at WKU and in the community. WKU has an active investment in working to keep their students safe and send the message that WKU will not tolerate sexual violence.” 
               
More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu and at http://wkunews.wordpress.com/. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.

For information, contact Elizabeth Mohon at (270) 745-3159.