This story contains mentions of sexual assault.
Around 150 students picked up free produce and learned about sexual assault awareness at two events on Wednesday.
The Office of Student Engagement, and the Health and Wellness center held a Wellness Wednesday event on the Health and Life Sciences Building patio where students got free produce from Hungry Harvest, a food market.
Students also signed a large banner that read “be an active bystander, support survivors and prevent sexual violence,” as part of the Campus Day of Action Against Sexual Assault event.
“Today was all about raising awareness and connecting with folks,” Sexual Violence Prevention Project Director Katie Keys said. “Because Sexual Assault Awareness Month is a whole month, I really love to kick it off with just like this very easy entry, like an introduction, almost to what prevention can look like.”
According to Keys, an organizer of the event, the banner will be on display “somewhere on campus.”
Sexual Assault Awareness Month lasts throughout April. The Health and Wellness Center handed out coloring books, bracelets, stickers, and pamphlets with resources and crisis center contact information.
Wellness Wednesday was held for the seventh time this school year. It takes place on the first Wednesday of every month.
Alya Carter, a first-year visual art and game design student, said this event was important for students to take sexual assault seriously.
“As someone who’s gone through a similar experience, I feel like it’s really important to bring more awareness to it,” Carter said. “Especially in this day and age.”
Don Miller, a third-year transfer studies student, agreed, adding, “It’s all very important stuff. And the fact that it’s, you know, awareness, it’s so friendly and inviting. It really means the world to this community.”
Keys said the event went “really well.”
“Being able to connect with students who have had these experiences, and they’re all different types of people, and all different types of experiences,” Keys said. “It’s really rewarding people to see them. And I think moments like this and these events like this can help them feel seen.”
