April 26, 2012
All throughout the month of April, groups like Hamilton SAVES (Sexual Assault and Violence Education and Support) and the Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Board (HSMB) organized a series of events to promote awareness about sexual assault, as April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
The purpose of Hamilton SAVES is to focus on sexual violence on college campuses and further education. The HSMB is a collection of staff, students, and faculty dedicated to making Hamilton a location free of assault and harassment.
The events held by Hamilton SAVES shed light on the difficult topic of sexual violence at Hamilton. For instance, the Speaker Series lecturers discussed an array of topics ranging from sexual violence in the LGBTQ community to race to college resources for sexual assault and sexual violence.
A particularly visible event organized for Sexual Assault Awareness Month was the T-shirt campaign in Kirner-Johnson and Taylor Science Center. Shirts created last year by survivors of sexual assault on Hamilton’s campus hung as a visual representation of an often invisible issue.
“We want to add to the display and make a visual statement acknowledging that sexual assault happens in our community and signifying our united effort in taking a stand against it,” said SAVES Co-Chair Alexandra Nasto ’13.
The placement of the shirts on campus and their messages support Hamilton’s stance of not blaming the survivor for any form of harassment and sexual assault that occur. By refusing to remain silent, the individuals involved have their voices and experiences reach the campus in a non-traditional manner.
“I think [the shirts are] empowering and take a lot of courage for those involved to speak out like that,” said Victoria “Tori” Morrow ’14.
On Monday April 30, Hamilton SAVES will have an Athlete Reading on Martin’s Way, outside of Commons. Student athlete volunteers will then read anonymously written submissions from students who experienced sexual assault aloud.
This tradition began last year and impacted many involved because the event fostered a sense of collectivity, promoting the idea that sexual assault affects all members of Hamilton’s community.
According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, the purpose of Sexual Assault Awareness Month is to promote awareness regarding sexual violence and to prevent future violent acts against men and women. It is necessary to stand with survivors of sexual abuse on campus, and the world, because it is imperative to make sexual assault an issue that concerns everyone.