This week on Armstrong and Statesboro campuses, GS is participating in the annual program, Sexual Assault Awareness Week. After talking with the sexual assault response team (SART) co-chair Dr. Jacquelyn Mesenbrink, she gave an inside look on what to expect this upcoming week. 

What is Sexual Assault Awareness Week?

An annual campaign at GS aimed to…

• create public awareness about sexual assault among college students 
• educate communities on ways to prevent sexual violence
• provide a safe space where survivors are valued, believed, and heard

Why is Sexual Assault Awareness Week Important?

This week is important to advocate for more education on sexual violence and spread awareness on these topics on GS campuses. “SAAW is a valuable week to bring awareness and attention that sexual assault on college campuses is pervasive.” Mesenbrink said.

• An estimated 20–25% of undergraduate women are victims/survivors of sexual violence, but 90% or more do not report the violence, according to the It’s on Us website. 
• 26.4% of females and 6.8% of males experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation, according to RAINN.
• 23.1% of TGQN (transgender, genderqueer, nonconforming) college students have been sexually assaulted, according to RAINN.

How to Get Involved This Week?

• The Clothesline Project – stop by the RAC, Russell Union, or library to create a t-shirt as a supporter or survivor of sexual violence.
  • “The active table is a space where people can share their story, support a survivor, empower culture changes, and be social justice forces by creating a shirt.” Mesenbrink explained.
• Take Back the Night – Supporters and survivors of sexual violence are invited to march through campus on Feb 23 at 7:00p.m. to raise awareness. The rally will include a reflection candlelight vigil to honor those who’ve lost their lives due to interpersonal violence.
• RAD Women’s Self-Defense Class – The Rape Agression Defense System is offering a women’s self-defense class that will provide realistic self-defense techniques. Sign-Up here. 
• Sexual Assault Student Educators – This on-campus student organization engages in discussions regarding sexual violence topics and issues while promoting outreach programs to educate and prevent sexual violence.

Resources:

GS offers a H.E.R.O. folder that lists specific campus and community resources to help yourself and anyone you may know experiencing mental health issues. The folder can be found here.