UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — April is nationally recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM). In recognition, the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) is collaborating with the Penn State Gender Equity Center and other campus partners and student organizations to host programs, workshops and events to help educate the Penn State community and raise awareness.
The national theme for SAAPM is “Drawing Connections: Prevention Demands Equity.” This campaign will highlight the prevalence and context in which sexual violence is experienced.
The Gender Equity Center, a unit of Student Affairs, encourages individuals, communities, organizations and institutions to build racial equity and respect.
“At the Gender Equity Center, we classify sexual violence under the umbrella of power-based interpersonal violence,” said Becca Geiger Wallen, associate director of the Gender Equity Center. “We do that very intentionally because we know this violence is all about power and control, and more specifically, oppression is at the root of this violence. We know marginalized groups, individuals with less power in society, experience this violence at higher rates. Further, the contexts in which they experience violence and the impact on their communities are often pushed to the margins of this conversation. With our series of programming, we hope to center those very important voices and highlight the experiences of all victim survivors and the need to end all forms of oppression, including racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, transphobia, ageism, ableism and xenophobia, in order to create a campus community and world free from sexual violence.”
There will be several opportunities for students, faculty and staff to get involved in SAAPM, including talks, exhibits, hands-on activities and events like the Men Against Violence Walk and the Peace Paper Project.
Schedule of events
Men Against Violence Walk — Sunday, April 2, at 2 p.m., Kickoff at Old Main Lawn. Sexual violence is often seen as a women’s issue, but, it affects people of all gender identities. The Men Against Violence Walk aims to involve men in prevention efforts to help play a positive role in creating change. Join in the movement by walking our mile-long march around campus to display your commitment to making our campus safer.
The event will begin with a kickoff and keynote speeches. Walkers can check in, receive a free T-shirt and create signs for the march starting at 1:30 p.m. While male participation is encouraged, all are welcome and encouraged to attend and promote. This event is sponsored by UPUA, the Gender Equity Center, Centre Safe and the Interfraternity Council. Register here.
Feminista Jones — Monday, April 3, at 7 p.m., Heritage Hall. The Gender Equity Center and UPUA are bringing Feminista Jones to campus. A feminist thought-leader and social media influencer honored for online activism, Jones is a Philadelphia-based writer, public speaker, community activist and retired social worker, as well as an award-winning writer and the author of the critically acclaimed “Reclaiming Our Space: How Black Feminists Are Changing the World from the Tweets to the Streets.”
Jones’ work centers around queer identity, critical race theory, intersectionality, mental health and social work. In 2014, she launched a global anti-street harassment campaign, #YouOKSis, and a National Moment of Silence protesting police brutality, #NMOS14, both of which received international media attention.
"Dangers of a Single Story: Debunking Myths and Amplifying Voices of Iranian Women" — Tuesday, April 4, at 6:30 p.m., Freeman Auditorium. Bridging the gap between Women's History Month and Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, join the Iranian Student Association and Gender Equity Center in celebration of the voices and stories of Iranian women. Women’s stories are part of the larger human story, but are often silenced, erased or excluded from the human narrative. These stories are further silenced when intersections of race, sexual orientation, national origin, religion and gender identity are layered on to the storyteller.
The Iranian Student Association and Gender Equity Center encourage students to break this silence by participating in a storytelling event. The Iranian Student Association will lead a discussion around the History of Women’s Rights in Iran, debunking myths around Iranian women and amplifying women’s voices. It will host performances of storytelling through written narrative, song and poetry by Iranian members of the Penn State community.
Sexual Violence and Awareness Discussion with Greeks CARE and It’s On Us at Penn State — Wednesday, April 5, at 7 p.m., 118 Thomas. Join Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity Inc. and Greeks CARE and Its On Us at Penn State for a discussion about sexual violence and awareness within Penn State's community.
"Take Back the Night" — Thursday, April 6, at 6 p.m., Old Main Lawn. "Take Back the Night" is a program led by Lambda Theta Alpha with support from the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA), the Gender Equity Center and Centre Safe. It seeks to provide victims of rape and sexual assault with a space to share their stories and learn about resources. After meeting at Old Main Lawn, students will march to various locations around campus, including Pattee and Paterno Library, East Halls and Pollock Halls. There will be stops along the way to allow individuals to speak up and share their stories. The event will end at Old Main Lawn with a candlelight vigil.
"Exposure Talks: Exploring Familial Trafficking" with Jennifer Roeder — Tuesday, April 11, at 6 p.m., Zoom. Join Hope Here, Hope Now and the Gender Equity Center for a conversation about human trafficking. Roeder, a human trafficking survivor and advocate for familial trafficking, will discuss her journey and the topic of incest. Roeder’s mission is to educate others about familial child sex-trafficking and open pathways to spiritual healing for survivors. Register online here.
"Peace Paper Project" — The Peace Paper Project will host a number of engagements, including classroom demonstrations, a keynote speaker, a veterans workshop and a victim-survivor workshop. Clothesline Project Pulping, one of the events, will highlight the need to eliminate sexual and intimate partner violence.
- Wednesday, April 12:
- The Clothesline Project Pulping event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the HUB-Robeson Center patio. The rain location for the event is the paper-making studio in the Arts Cottage.
- A keynote conversation with Drew Matott, founder of Peace Paper Project, will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. in Freeman Auditorium.
- Thursday, April 13:
- Open sessions and interactive demonstrations for classes and groups will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Patterson 201. Email beccageigerwallen@psu.edu to register your class, club or organization for an open session.
- Friday, April 14:
- Open sessions and interactive demonstrations for classes and groups will take place from 8 to 10 a.m. in Patterson 201. Email beccageigerwallen@psu.edu to register your class, club or organization for an open session.
- A Veterans Workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Patterson 201.
- Saturday, April 15 and Sunday, April 16:
- An "Honoring Survival: Victim Survivor Workshop" will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Patterson 204. Register here.
"What Were You Wearing?" Survivor Art Installation — Friday, April 14, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., HUB-Robeson Center TV Lounge. “What were you wearing?" is an all too common and familiar question asked of survivors of sexual assault and violence by family, friends, community members, law enforcement, attorneys and more. This question is rooted in victim-blaming culture and the rape myth that survivors provoke perpetrators due to their behavior — how they dress, if they drank alcohol or consumed drugs or if they go back to the perpetrator's apartment. The reality is nothing a survivor does invites sexual violence or assault.
The Gender Equity Center, Centre Safe and UPUA will host the “What Were You Wearing?” Survivor Art Installation, which seeks to dispel this myth by displaying recreations of what Penn State community members were wearing when they experienced sexual violence and assault. View the stories and outfit recreations on display in the HUB-Robeson Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The installation is intended to help change visitors’ perspectives about the causes of rape and show how people can promote consent culture and support for victim survivors.
"Burn Bright: Women and Nonbinary Night" — Wednesday, April 19, at 7:30 p.m., Pavilion Theatre. Penn State Centre Stage is presenting “Emilia” this spring, a play about empowering women’s voices, early world feminism and female-written work through the gaze of Shakespearian England. The story of “Emilia” signifies the importance of lifting up marginalized voices. The show’s cast is completely non-male. To celebrate this momentous occasion, Centre Stage is inviting women and non-binary students across campus for a special discounted evening. Following the production, there will be a talkback with the cast and production team.
Subsidized tickets of $10 can be purchased through the Centre Stage website or by calling 814-863-0255. Email tlj5347@psu.edu with any questions.
Denim Day — Wednesday, April 26. This annual event was started in April 1999 by Peace Over Violence in response to a 1998 ruling by the Italian Supreme Court and the activism associated with it. According to its website, the Denim Day campaign was established after the Italian Supreme Court ruled that a rape conviction be overturned, because it claimed the victim’s jeans were too tight when the assault took place, thereby implying her consent. The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim.
To participate in Denim Day, community members are encouraged to take a picture of themselves dressed in denim on April 27. They can share the picture on social media, tag @PennStateGenEq and @upua_psu, use the hashtag #DenimDay2023 and express why they support survivors. Pictures can be emailed to Becca Geiger Wallen at rxg5421@psu.edu to be shared on the Gender Equity Center’s social media platforms.
The SAAPM events are hosted by the Gender Equity Center and UPUA. Co-sponsors include Centre Safe, the Center for the Performing Arts, the Office of Digital Learning for the College of Arts and Architecture, the Interfraternity Council, the Iranian Student Association, Lambda Theta Alpha, Hope Here, Hope Now and Penn State Centre Stage.
For more information on domestic violence and ways to become involved in prevention efforts, visit the Gender Equity Center website.
Follow the Gender Equity Center on Facebook and Instagram using @PennStateGenEq to stay up to date or visit its website. Join the Gender Equity Center listserv by e-mailing beccageigerwallen@psu.edu.