Health Promotion and Wellness, the Student Wellness Ambassador Team (SWAT), and Students Ending Rape Culture (SERC) hosted various events throughout April in order to educate others about consent, boundaries, and other related topics in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Along with some general information released throughout the month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month featured two main events.
Day of Silence
On April 9, the Illinois State community participated by taking a vow of silence to call attention to and signify the prevalence of the silencing of and harassment against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer students. Students, faculty, and staff were able to take the pledge, promising to remain silent for the allotted time of their choosing, and used the hashtag #SilentRedbirds on social media to spread awareness.
Denim Day
Denim Day is a national and annually recognized advocacy event in which individuals are encouraged to wear denim to raise awareness of rape and sexual assault. SWAT and Health Promotion and Wellness invited staff, faculty, and students to come together to support survivors of sexual assault by wearing denim on April 28, and participating in our Virtual Denim Day Photo Contest. Faculty, staff, and students were encouraged to post pictures on their own social media platforms using the hashtag #RedbirdDenim.
If you wish to play a role in educating the Illinois State community about sexual violence, you may find value in serving as a volunteer speaker at a Students Ending Rape Culture (SERC) or Student Wellness Ambassador Team (SWAT) meeting. Contact Misia Grzybowski for more information.
Follow SERC and SWAT on social media to discover more about the work they do encouraging their fellow Redbirds to stay safe and healthy.
