Short Summary

The Sexual Violence Awareness Week team is filled with students from different backgrounds trying to make a positive impact in the Penn State and Centre County Community.

Sexual Violence Awareness Week is a campaign focused on helping the general population understand what sexual violence is and ways they can prevent it, stop it, and respond to it.

Sexual Violence Awareness Week 2013 Breakdown

• April 6th, Saturday - 4k and 6k hosted by One Heart Campaign
• April 7th, Sunday -
• April 8th, Monday - Unreported student documentary screening with discussion panel
• April 9th, Tuesday - Expression and Healing Gallery - Different art forms will be on display
• April 10th, Wednesday - Toiletry drive to benefit Stormbreak (Local youth runaway shelter) Encourage community to attend Lambda Theta Alpha's Take Back the Night
• April 11th, Thursday - Walk A Mile in her Shoes funded by the Center for Women Students and planned by Men Against Violence and Triota, Boys and Men Healing documentary screening with discussion
• April 12th, Friday - Rock Against Rape (Battle of the bands to raise money for Centre County Women's Resource Center and 1 in 6)

Aside from the events during the week there will be banner signings, a social media campaign that addresses street-harrassment, buttons and bracelets being sold, Tshirts being given out, and most importantly, open dialogue about sexual violence and how prominent it is in our community. 

What We Need 

Thankfully the University Park Undergraduate Assocsiation (UPUA) will be funding a lot of the events, but our team wants to be sure we have enough money to make each event a huge success!

We will be purchasing:

1. Between 3,000 and 6,000 depending on the amount of money we have available "Only Do It With Consent" t-shirts that one of our members created. (Shown in the image above)
2. Men's size high heels that will be used for Walk A Mile in Her Shoes
3. Two banners to be signed
   • The first will say, "I pledge to not use the term "rape" in joking or offensive context. Example- 'I raped that exam', 'that football team got raped', etc." 
   • The second will say, "I believe sexual violence of any kind is unacceptable and I will not participate nor condone that type of behavior."
4. Balloons to put up around campus to raise awareness of the week
5. A stage and sound system for Rock Against Rape 
6. 10,000 pamphlets to hand out to students that include information about PA laws, what to do, who to contact, and what victim blaming is. 

*The money we raise will pay for anything that does not get funded through UPUA. If there is any amount left over it will be donated directly to the Centre County Women's Resource Center and 1 in 6.*

The Impact

The University Park population consists of over 40,000 students. It is critical that we educate these members of the community about sexual violence and show them that sexual violence is unacceptable. 

Last year, during the first Sexual Violence Awareness Week, we handout out 1,500 shirts in minutes, raised $350 and two giant boxes of toiletries for the Centre County Women's Resource Center, had over 3,000 people sign a banner stating that they believe sexual violence is unacceptable, and handed out educational materials. 

You could play a critical role in helping deter someone from commiting such a heinous act and also in supporting someone who is getting resources they need if they have already been assaulted. Helping a community in central PA is benecifial to you because most of us are here for a short amount of time. Each of us will then find our jobs and lives in other communities, maybe even yours. These students and community members will be sitting on your juries, they will be your lawyers, your peace officers, your educators, your coworkers and more importantly your community members. You taking a stand now will benefit the Penn State community today and your own community tomorrow. Take a stand, it is worth it.

"An estimated 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will experience a sexual assault in their lifetime." (ccwrc.org) The Sexual Violence Awareness Week team believes that one person being assaulted is too many and is determined to help wherever possible to diminish that number and help assist those who have been assaulted.

Other Ways You Can Help

We understand that not everyone can contribute financially! If you want to help out in another way come out to our events during the week or contact your local resource center and volunteer your time! 

Thank you for taking a stand with us. Together, we will prevent sexual violence!