April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), part of a national effort to bring attention to the issue of sexual violence. This year’s observance occurs at a time when the national discourse around sexual assault could not be more vocal, from #MeToo and #MuteRKelly to the Department of Education’s proposed changes to Title IX.

During the month of April, the Women’s Center and our partners* will host a number of programs and events designed to shift campus culture around the issue of sexual violence. It’s a time to have difficult conversations, to mobilize action and to support survivors. It’s also a time for the Wolfpack community to understand that sexual violence will not be tolerated on this campus and that it is up to each and every one of us to stand up and be an active bystander.

Programs and Events

The month begins with NC State’s annual Take Back the Night rally and march on Stafford Commons on Tuesday, April 2, 2019 beginning at 6:00 p.m. The event reclaims the night and our campus for survivors of sexual assault and culminates in a powerful Survivor Speak Out in Currituck-Hatteras Ballroom immediately following the march.

On Thursday, April 11, 2019, Kimber Nicoletti-Martínez, national Social Worker of the Year, will deliver this year’s Keynote Address. Kimber is the director of Multicultural Efforts to End Sexual Assault (MESA), a statewide effort in Indiana focused on preventing sexual violence across the lifespan, including child sexual abuse in underserved and marginalized populations, with particular attention focused on migrant farmworker, immigrant and LGBTQIA+ communities. From 6:00-8:00 p.m., she will share her story of surviving college — as a survivor — and her own journey toward healing. She will also discuss how members of the Wolfpack may approach supporting survivors on campus and how to get involved in ending sexual violence.

SAAM will also feature a month-long display of The Clothesline Project in various locations throughout Talley Student Union. Adapted from the national campaign, NC State’s Clothesline Project gives survivors of interpersonal violence a space to speak and heal through artwork. In addition to viewing the shirts in Talley, students, faculty and staff can also drop in at one of the four campus community centers during the following weeks to create their own t-shirt.

• April 1-5: GLBT Center (Talley Student Union, Suite 5230)
• April 8-12: African American Cultural Center (Witherspoon Student Center, Suite 355)
• April 15-19: Women’s Center (Talley Student Union, Suite 5210)
• April 22-26: Multicultural Student Affairs (Talley Student Union, Suite 4261)

We hope you will join us for these events as well as our numerous other workshops, art installations and mobilization activities, each and every one of which is designed to spark critical conversations and build the skills of our campus community to prevent violence and to support survivors.

Learn More

Please visit go.ncsu.edu/SAAM to learn more.

* SAAM is proudly sponsored by: Division of Academic and Student Affairs, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Interfraternity Council, NC State Counseling Center, NC State University English Department, NC State Women’s Center, Prevention Services, Student Government, University Housing, Wellness and Recreation.

If you or someone you know is experiencing relationship violence, sexual violence or stalking and are in need of advocacy services, the Women’s Center has advocates available from 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday in Talley Student Union, Suite 5210. After hours, please call the 24/7 Sexual Assault Helpline at 919-515-4444 to be connected with an advocate. For more information, please see go.ncsu.edu/supportsurvivors.

Janine Kossen is associate director of the Women’s Center.