Three upcoming events organized in part by the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Student Health and Counseling Services Office are designed to raise awareness about sexual assaults and provide support for victims as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April.
Student Health and Counseling Services will host two of those events, which will occur on the UW-River Falls campus, and support another in the community.
The first event, Take Back the Night, occurs from 4-8 p.m. on Thursday, April 6, at the Glen Park Pavilion, 630 Glen Park Road, River Falls. This sexual assault survivor-centered event aims to promote awareness and provide healing for victims. It is put on in conjunction with Hudson-based St. Croix Valley Sexual Assault Response Team and Turningpoint, an organization that supports victims of sexual and domestic violence. Food, activities, and local resources provided.
On Wednesday, April 19, sexual assault survivor and activist Abby Honold of Minnesota will speak about her work to address sexual assaults, including federal legislation to financially support trauma-informed training for law enforcement officers. The event is from 7-8 p.m. in Riverview Ballroom in the UW-River Falls University Center, 501 Wild Rose Ave., River Falls.
The third event, Denim Day, is intended to raise awareness about sexual assaults and is set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26, in the University Center lobby. UW-River Falls students will staff a table to speak with passersby and offer resources available through Student Health and Counseling Services. For more information about Denim Day, visit denimday.org.
“Take some time out of your busy April to access these valuable awareness and educational events,” Faith Velez, violence prevention coordinator with Student Health and Counseling Services, said.
Additional awareness about sex assaults is needed, said Velez, a 2021 UW-River Falls graduate. Statistics show one of every six women in the U.S. has been sexually assaulted as a child or adult. Experts say sexual assault figures are artificially low because many of those assaults are not reported to authorities.
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