November 22, 2024

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

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The following message is from UMW’s Center for Prevention and Education:

Across the nation, April is celebrated as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). This is a time for raising awareness of sexual assault and gender-based violence, as well as celebrating the strength of survivors, passion of advocates, and compassion of allies.

In these unprecedented times, we are all adjusting our schedules and modifying routines because of COVID-19. For us, that included cancelling all April SAAM scheduled in-person programming organized by our student organizations, faculty, staff, and off-campus partners. As we are adapting to social distancing, the Center for Prevention and Education (CPE) is moving forward with virtual programming for April. It is important to reiterate our commitment to survivors, advocates, allies, and the educational components of SAAM. We look forward to hosting online events, collaborations, engaging more with our community through social media, and shining a spotlight on others that were part of the SAAM planning for April 2020.

We hope you will join us on Instagram and Facebook to support our virtual 2020 SAAM efforts. Our SAAM 2020 webpage includes information on upcoming virtual programs, content you can share through social media, SAAM coloring pages, giveaways, and much more.

Finally, to share a little home away from home and as thank you in advance for supporting our vision, the grand prize giveaway for engaging with us on social media will be one University of Mary Washington diploma frame.  Please visit our SAAM 2020 webpage or Instagram profile for additional information.

Stay healthy, practice self-care, and reach out if you need support.

Marissa Miller
Center for Prevention and Education

UMW Observes National Sexual Assault Awareness Month

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The University of Mary Washington observed National Sexual Assault Awareness Month this April with three public events: Fear 2 Freedom, The Clothesline Project and Take Back the Night.   UMW Clothesline Project Fear 2 Freedom kicked off the month of events on April 1. UMW’s Talley Center for Counseling Services worked with Fear 2 Freedom to provide after-care kits for those affected by rape, child abuse, domestic violence and sex-trafficking. Kits prepared by participants during the event were donated to local hospitals, Safe Harbor and the Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault. Each kit included a T-shirt, sweatpants, underwear, Freedom bear and storybook, essential toiletries and a personal note. The Clothesline Project  displayed T-shirts on Ball Circle April 8-9. In this nationwide project, students and members of the greater Fredericksburg community who were affected by sexual violence decorated T-shirts that provided a visual testimony to their experiences. Take Back the Night, held on Wednesday, April 8 in front of Lee Hall, encourages survivors and other community members to speak out and take a stand against sexual violence. Take Back the Night takes place nationwide and has been an empowering event for survivors and their supporters for more than 35 years. These events were co-sponsored by Empowerhouse, the Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault (RCASA), and by several UMW offices and organizations including Alpha Mu Sigma, Feminists United, the Office of Judicial Affairs and Community Responsibility, Psi Chi Honor Society, Student Anti-Violence Educators (S.A.V.E.), the Talley Center for Counseling Services and the Office of the Title IX Coordinator.

UMW Observes National Sexual Assault Awareness Month

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The University of Mary Washington will observe National Sexual Assault Awareness Month with two free public events in April, the “Where’s the Line?” campaign presentation and Take Back the Night. Take Back the Night at UMW. Photo courtesy of the Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault. The “Where’s the Line?” presentation will be held Wednesday, April 2 at 6 p.m. in the Anderson Center, with a welcome from President Richard V. Hurley. Attendees will have the opportunity to assemble care kits for sexual assault victims at local hospitals. “Where’s the Line?” is sponsored by Fear 2 Freedom, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping those wounded by sexual abuse. Take Back the Night will be held Wednesday, April 16 beginning in front of Lee Hall at 6 p.m. The annual event, co-hosted by UMW and the Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault, encourages people to speak out and take a stand against sexual violence. The rain date is Wednesday, April 23. Take Back the Night takes place nationwide and has been operating for more than 35 years. More information about Take Back the Night and the Take Back the Night Foundation can be found at www.takebackthenight.org. Both “Where’s the Line?” and Take Back the Night at UMW are presented by the Division of Student Affairs, the Office of Counseling and Psychological Services and the Office of Judicial Affairs and Community Responsibility.