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This month is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Observed around the country, SAAM's goal is to educate people about the public health issue that is sexual violence and to raise public awareness by giving communities and individuals the education needed to prevent sexual crimes.
SAAM was first observed nationally April 2001. Protests against Sexual Assault began in the 1970s with Take Back The Night, a yearly candlelight vigil aiming to make the streets safe again for women. Over time, the need for further public awareness became increasingly important, and SAAM was born. The National Coalition Against Sexual Assault provides the resources for communities across the nation to promote awareness of this issue.
SAAM's official color is teal, and the teal ribbon is the symbol of those looking showing their support for events like Take Back the Night and groups like NCASA.
The Women's Resource Center on campus holds events every year on campus in support of SAAM. In preparation for SAAM, a self-defense workshop was held on March 22. Belinda DeLeon and Brad Slack from the BU Police Department gave tips on how to prevent being attacked. They discussed such useful tactics as looking confident and prepared, and not being preoccupied with electronic devices like cell phones. They also taught hands-on self-defense techniques.
Covered in The Voice's April 8 issue, the Women's Resource Center also held their annual Take Back The Night event on campus. On March 3, they held a Sexual Assault Awareness Women's Wit & Wisdom event. These events are held yearly, and are in support of SAAM. In the past, a Victim Witness Coordinator from the Bloomsburg Courthouse spoke to students about Sexual Assault awareness.
Next semester, Mike Domitrez will hold a Women's Wit & Wisdom seminar on September 15 titled, "Can I Kiss You?" The event will discuss safe environment support and include training videos on how to help a sexual assault survivor. In October, Domestic Violence Awareness month will be observed on campus, and more Women's Wit & Wisdom events are to come on this topic.
Alternatively, the Women's Center in Bloomsburg also provides support and awareness for Sexual Assault victims. The Center serves the residents of Columbia and Montour counties, any battered women and their children, as well as both the adult and child victims of sexual assault and incest are eligible for services. They provide a 24-hour emergency hotline, an emergency shelter for battered women and their children, medical advocacy, individual and group counseling, emotional and practical support, and advocacy and accompaniment to the police, hospitals, legal appointments, court, and social services agencies.
According to the FBI, in the United States, a woman is beaten every nine seconds, and a woman is raped every six minutes. The Women's Center believes that "by receiving peer encouragement and practical support, victims of domestic violence and sexual assault can work toward regaining a positive self-image. It is our belief that this positive self-image will give women who have been battered or sexually assaulted the strength necessary to handle their problems and to work toward a solution." The philosophy of the Women's Center is "that all individuals are equal to one another and have the right to live in a nonviolent environment."
This philosophy is the backbone of SAAM this April, and DVAW in October. Students can show their support by contacting the Bloomsburg University Women's Resource Center on campus, or the Columbia Montour county Women's Center in town.
Teal ribbons are available at the Women's Resource Center on campus, or contact Lauren Lewis at 570-389-5283.
All services are free and if you, or a person of any age who you know, needs any of the above services, call the Women's Center hotline at 570-784-6631, or (toll-free) 800-544-8293.
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