WSU Hosts Sexual Assault Awareness Month

One in six women and one in 25 men experience rape or attempted rape during their lifetime in Utah, according to the Utah Department of Health, and nearly one in three women will experience some form of sexual violence during their lives. Sexual assault is the only violent crime where Utah’s rate is above the national average.

Throughout the month of April, Weber State will host a variety of events for Sexual Assault Awareness Month to help bring attention to the topic, provide prevention education and support those who have been affected by sexual assault.

Events include Take Back the Night on April 1, Start by Believing Day on April 6 and Denim Day on April 27, as well as Safe@Weber workshops and a Sister Circle event.

WSU Women’s Center director Paige Davies said Take Back the Night, part of a global movement to raise sexual assualt awareness, is usually the most wellattended event. The event will highlight the experiences of survivors with a rally and a march through downtown Ogden.

“It can be empowering and healing for survivors to just yell and be around other people speaking out,” she said.

Start by Believing Day, a nationwide event signed into law by the Utah Legislature, focuses on believing survivors of sexual violence. WSU will host a social media campaign, posting photos of faculty and staff with signs saying they have committed to believing survivors.

Davies said there can be a lot of shame and guilt surrounding sexual violence. “But just having someone say, ‘I believe you,’ can go so far in someone else’s healing,” she said.

Denim Day, a global movement to support survivors, is a reference to the day the Italian Supreme Court overturned a rape conviction in 1998, citing the victim’s tight jeans she must have helped the person who raped her remove, thereby implying consent.

“We use that as a way to talk about that it doesn't matter where you were or what you were doing, there still is no excuse for sexual assault,” Davies said.

Safe@Weber workshops held throughout the month will teach attendees about healthy relationships, consent and communicating boundaries. The Sister Circle: Self Care Affair will be an opportunity for attendees to share resources and talk about self care for sexual assault survivors as well as in other aspects of life, like finals week.

The Weber State Police Department, Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Office and a variety of other campus and community partners collaborate on Sexual Assault Awareness Month events as well.

Those looking for resources can contact the Weber State Women’s Center or visit weber.edu/safeatweber.