Many of the University of Memphis’ registered student organizations will host events this month focusing on the topics of sexual assault like bystander intervention, partner violence and many others.
The Office of Institutional Equity (OIE), the Student Government Association, Student Leadership and Involvement (SLI) and Safety Net are some of the groups that will host events.
Safety Net will host “Detox Masculinity” on April 9, which will focus on how the narratives of patriarchal and masculine roles affect everyone. Courtney Harrough, the Safety Net president, said it is important this topic is discussed in today’s society.
“We wanted to host an event that allowed students to look at what it means to deconstruct the toxicities found in masculinity and male culture to see what can be done to progressively combat this issue,” Harrough said.
“Say My Name” is another event Safety Net will host, and it will be an open-mic environment that will allow students to share an original or previously published piece that has impacted their life as a survivor or lends support for survivors. Each open-mic segment will last three to five minutes and will take place in the University Center Atrium on April 19 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Harrough said each of these events is essential because they shed light on the stories and issues that are often overlooked.
“These events are important because they highlight stories that go untold and address issues that become easily twisted by media, word of mouth or lack of education around what sexual assault is and what factors play into that,” Harrough said. “These events also allow students at the University of Memphis to feel seen, cared for and their needs addressed while making it known peacefully to campus administration that this is an issue that needs more work addressing and efforts to make sexual assault a non-issue on this campus should continue.”
SGA will will host “Denim Day” on April 25, which is an event where students are encouraged to wear jeans to advocate against victim blaming.
Peace over Violence, a nonprofit organization focused on healthy relationships, has hosted the Denim Day campaign for 19 years. The campaign was created in response to an Italian Supreme Court’s overturn ruling in a rape conviction.
The Italian Supreme Court’s justices said the victim implied consent because she wore tight jeans and must have helped the person she accused of raping her remove them. The next day, women in the Italian Parliament showed support for the victim by wearing jeans to work.
Kevyanna Rawls, current SGA vice president and future SGA president, said the Sexual Assault Awareness Month committee, led by Hai Phuong Nguyen from OIE, decided to host this event so it could create more discussions about this topic.
“The event will be represented by the Safety Net President, SLI, Disability Services, Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Committee, Stonewall Tigers and SGA,” Rawls said. “We believed this event would encourage students to participate in sexual assault awareness initiatives and conversations and increase community conversations regarding this issue.”
Rawls said she hopes the event gives sexual assault victims feelings of comfort.
“As Denim Day was created with hopes of actively protesting against sexual assault, I hope that students at the University of Memphis who have been affected by sexual assault will find solace in knowing that there are students who support them and also do not condone such behavior,” Rawls said.
“Take Back the Night,” a march and public forum, will be hosted by SLI on April 23 in the Student Activities Plaza. Counselors from the Counseling Center will be in attendance to offer support for students who need it.
Alison Brown, SLI’s Coordinator of Outreach and Support, said the event is a platform for survivors and allies to speak and bring awareness about the issues of sexual assault, dating and domestic violence and stalking.
OIE will present the Health Relationships Fair on April 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Student Activities Plaza. The fair has over 20 community and campus partnerships and will include workshops sponsored by the Psychology Department, live art, free lunch and HIV screenings.
Planned Parenthood, the Shelby County Rape Crisis Center, the U of M’s Psychology Department and Division of Student Affairs will also partner with other organizations to host events this month.
