April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). To increase awareness and educate individuals and the campus community on this important topic, Illinois State University is holding several events throughout the month:
- Redbirds Unite 5K – Join the Redbird Battalion and run 3.1 miles to raise awareness for Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
- Saturday, April 1, 8:00 a.m. in front of the Women Athletics Landmark (180 N. Adelaide St., Normal, IL 61761)
- Participants must submit this waiver form: https://arotc.illinoisstate.edu/downloads/scholarships/ReleaseWaiverLiabilityForm.pdf
- Participants are encouraged to wear teal to demonstrate support and stand with survivors
- Saturday, April 1, 8:00 a.m. in front of the Women Athletics Landmark (180 N. Adelaide St., Normal, IL 61761)
- Consent Day—Campus organizations will explore the different ways consent plays a vital role in our daily lives.
- Wednesday, April 5, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Schroeder Plaza.
- (Rain location: Prairie Room, Bone Student Center)
- Day of Silence—A nationally recognized day of action to spread awareness about the effects of bullying and harassing the LGBTQ+ community. These activities will help prepare for April 14, when individuals across the world will take a vow of silence to represent the repression of the LGBTQ+ community.
- Tuesday, April 11, noon-3 p.m. at Schroeder Plaza
- (Rain location: Concourse, Bone Student Center)
- Clothesline Project—An art installation project that displays T-shirts created by survivors of interpersonal violence in our community. Survivors will be able to create their own shirt to add to the collection.
- Monday, April 17, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the flagpole on the Quad
- (Rain date: April 20)
- Denim Day—Began as a response to the Italian Supreme Court ruling overturning a rape conviction because the victim wore tight jeans. Denim Day has since then become a worldwide campaign to dispel victim-blaming ideologies and raise awareness of sexual violence.
- Wednesday, April 26, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Schroeder Plaza
- (Rain location: Concourse, Bone Student Center)
SAAM is an important time to raise awareness, educate the public, and work together to prevent sexual violence and support survivors. By participating in SAAM events, we can all play a role in creating a safer and more equitable society.
For more information on these events and volunteering opportunities, contact Health Promotion and Wellness at Wellness@IllinoisState.edu or (309) 438-WELL (9355).
Visit RedbirdLife.IllinoisState.edu for more details on the events.
