April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

On Campus,

One in 5 women and one in 16 men has been sexually assaulted while in college,1 and an estimated 90% of sexual assaults among college students are never reported.2

Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) aims to address these serious issues. A national health observance that takes place annually in April, SAAM has served as a rallying call to people and organizations across the US to prevent sexual violence since 2001.

This year’s SAAM theme, “Safer Campuses, Brighter Futures: It’s time to act! Prevent sexual violence.” puts the spotlight on college and universities and encourages college students, faculty, staff, and administrators to become educated about sexual violence and take action to prevent it.

Here are some ways you can get involved:

  • Visit the SAAM website to learn how you can play a role in sexual violence prevention.
  • Use your voice to make an impact. Talk to friends about sexual violence. Write a letter to the editor of the Collegian. Use #SAAM on social media to spread the word.
  • Become familiar with the Penn State Center for Women Students and its services for students who have been impacted by sexual violence, relationship violence, stalking, harassment, and other campus climate issues.
  • Participate in one of the many events UPUA is sponsoring as part of Penn State’s Sexual Violence Awareness Week.

Sources:

  1. Krebs, C. P., Lindquist, C. H., Warner, T. D., Fisher, V. S., & Martin, S. L. (2007) The Campus Sexual Assault (CSA) Study (NCJ 221153). Retrieved from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/221153.pdf
  2. Fisher, B. S., Cullen, F. T., & Turner, M. G., (2000). The sexual victimization of college women. Retrieved from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/182369.pdf

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