April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Published Tuesday, April 01, 2025

National Sexual Assault Awareness Month

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). The theme "Together We Act, United We Change" highlights the importance of working together to address and prevent sexual abuse, assault, and harassment. Everyone in our community deserves to live in safe and supportive environments where they are treated with respect. When our campus community works together to uphold safety and respect, we make progress in preventing sexual abuse, assault, and harassment.

Over 53% of women and over 29% of men reported experiencing sexual violence (Chen, et al., 2023). Education is the first step to action, empowering our community to be part of the solution. This campaign works to shift the ways our communities understand, talk about, and respond to sexual abuse, assault, and harassment. We can challenge harmful misconceptions and foster safer communities by learning and acting together. Together, we act with purpose! United, we have the power to change our community for the better.

Happenings On Campus

Sexual Assault Awareness Month Softball and Baseball Games:
- Baseball will be April 9 vs Wayne State (Wednesday) Wear teal!
- Softball will be April 18 vs. Winona State (Friday) Wear teal!
University Public Safety will be tabling every Friday in April from 11-1 outside the cafe with giveaways and activities
Chartwells Coffee House will use Sexual Assault Awareness Month sleeves for their drinks in partnership with New Horizons Crisis Center
Mental Health Services, Women's Center, LGBTQ Center, Library & Health Services will have displays all month
Transforming Generations presentation April 22nd 1:30-2:45 CH 201
Denim Day! Wear Denim April 30th! Learn more about the history of Denim Day by clicking on the following link: denimday.org/why-denim

Online student? No problem! Show your support on Zoom and Teams! Connect with joyce.tofte@smsu.edu to request custom Zoom/Teams backgrounds and use them through the month of April!

Virtual Learning Opportunities

Stalking & Sexual Violence: Understanding the Intersections by SPARC

Wednesday, Apr 16, 2025 at 1:00 PM

Registration link: Stalking & Sexual Violence

Sexual violence and stalking are both prevalent, commonly misunderstood, and severely underreported victimizations. In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, this webinar explores what multidisciplinary professionals need to know about the intersection of stalking and sexual violence. Victim support, criminal justice, and allied professionals are invited to learn about similarities, co-occurrence, and strategies to support victims and survivors of sexual violence and stalking.

Health Impacts of Stalking by SPARC

Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 1:00 PM

Registration Link: Health Impacts of Stalking

Stalking is a prevalent, dangerous, and often misunderstood victimization that affects victims’ physical and mental health. Healthcare settings are critical alternative access points to the criminal justice system for victims to disclose and receive care and referrals. This session explores the dynamics of stalking, focusing on the highly contextual nature of the crime by discussing common tactics used by perpetrators, the health impacts of stalking, and considerations for healthcare professionals.

Conversations with The National Tribal Sexual Assault Resource Center

Tuesdays in April (April 1, 8, 15, 22, 28)

Registration link: Sexual Assault Awareness Month Conversations

The National Tribal Sexual Assault Resource Center is hosting weekly conversations throughout SAAM about a variety of topics, including:

April 1: Introducing SAAM and sharing the history of this month
April 8: Celebrating Native advocates and sexual assault programs
April 15: Celebrating Culturally Specific Sexual Assault Awareness Week within SAAM
April 22: Live interview from MIWSAC’s Annual Conference
April 29: SAAM wrap-up with wellness practices and discussions of upcoming events

History

Women's organized protests against violence began in the late 1970s in England, with Take Back the Night marches. These women-only protests emerged in direct response to the violence that women encountered as they walked the streets at night. These activities became more coordinated and soon developed into a movement that extended to the United States and, by 1978, the first Take Back the Night events in the U.S. were held in San Francisco and New York City. Over time, sexual assault awareness activities expanded to include the issue of sexual violence against men and men’s participation in ending sexual violence.

By the early 1980s, substantial interest developed in coordinating activities to raise awareness of violence against women. As a result, time was set aside during October to raise awareness of violence against women issues. Over time, October became the principle focus of domestic violence awareness activities. Sexual assault advocates looked for a separate time to focus attention on sexual assault issues.

In the late 1980s, the National Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NCASA) polled state sexual assault coalitions to determine when to have a national Sexual Assault Awareness Week. A week in April was selected. Over time, however, some advocates began focusing attention on sexual violence throughout the month of April. In the late 1990s, many advocates began coordinating activities throughout the month of April on a regular basis, promoting an idea for a nationally recognized month for sexual violence awareness activities.

From 2000-2001, the Resource Sharing Project (RSP) and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), polled state, territory, and tribal coalitions and found that the color teal was the preferred color for sexual assault awareness and prevention and April was the most preferred month to coordinate national sexual assault awareness activities, respectively. As a result, Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) was first observed nationally in April 2001.

Thank you for supporting University Public Safety and Title IX in our sexual violence prevention efforts this month and throughout the year!

For more information, connect with Joyce Tofte at joyce.tofte@SMSU.edu