The University of Mary Washington will observe National Sexual Assault Awareness Month this April to educate the UMW community about the impact of interpersonal violence and sexual abuse. The observance will include several on-campus activities for students and two public events.
UMW’s observance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month will include Take Back the Night, an annual event that encourages people to speak out against sexual violence.
The observance will begin on Wednesday, April 3 with a presentation of the “Where’s the Line?” campaign. Sponsored by Fear 2 Freedom, a non-profit organization dedicated to bring hope and healing to those wounded by sexual abuse, the “Where’s the Line?” campaign aims to educate and empower students about sexual assault. The event will begin at 6 p.m. in Goolrick Hall’s gymnasium and will include remarks from President Richard V. Hurley. Those who attend the event can assemble care kits for sexual assault victims at local hospitals.
UMW’s observance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month will culminate on Thursday, April 18 with Take Back the Night, an annual event that encourages people to speak out and take a stand against sexual violence. Take Back the Night, co-hosted by UMW and the Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault, will begin at UMW’s Ball Circle at 5 p.m. and will end in downtown Fredericksburg’s Market Square. Take Back The Night has been operating for more than 35 years with thousands of events taking place nationwide.
Both “Where’s the Line?” and Take Back the Night, presented by the Division of Student Affairs and the Office of Counseling and Psychological Services, are free and open to the public. For more information, visit http://students.umw.edu/caps/april-is-sexual-assault-awareness-month/.
