The Wellness Program has launched a social media campaign entitled “Make Your Move Bradley” in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April.
Organizations such as Bradley Help, Empower and Teach (HEAT), Body Project and Student Activities Budget Review Committee have partnered to promote the campaign with posters, events and social media in order to bring awareness and educate students on the topic of sexual assault.
“Unfortunately, sexual assault, sexual violence, harassment and stalking is too common,” Interim Director of Wellness Lyndsey Hawkins said. “It’s too common in general and especially thinking that this is a college campus where students live every moment of their life. For this to be part of the dialogue that we have is unfortunate, but we need to have the conversation.”
Bradley’s Panhellenic Council hosted the month’s first event, Take Back The Night, April 6 on Olin Quad. Guest speaker Julie Boland of the Center for Prevention of Abuse in Peoria advocated for women to speak out against sexual violence.
“It is extremely important for college students to be educated on sexual assault because it is so prominent on campuses with everyone being in such close proximity, along with the common use of alcohol on campus,” sophomore nursing major and HEAT member Jenelle Euliano said. “It is also important because the statistics are way too high of men and women getting assaulted. Statistically, walking among a group of your girl friends, greater than three people, one or more of you have been assaulted. That is alarming.”
On April 6 and 7, members of HEAT asked students how they would end sexual assault on campus by writing their answers on dry erase boards with the hashtag #makeyourmovebradley.
“The response from the students has been pretty shocked and oblivious,” Euliano said. “When presenting them with the information and the reason why the event was taking place, they looked puzzled as if they never thought once of this being a problem on our campus. Once the information was given, their responses were more concerned and involved.”
HEAT will host the “Can I Give You a Kiss?” event on April 14 and 15, which aims to educate students on the importance of consent with any type of sexual activity.
Shades of Her Story will take place in the Student Center Ballroom on April 17 and will feature monologues meant to inspire and encourage people who have been victims of sexual assault.
The Marty Theater will show a screening of the documentary “The Hunting Ground,” which focuses on the struggles of sexual assault victims on college campuses and exposes the lies and cover-ups of large universities involved with numerous sexual assault cases.
The campaign will conclude on April 23 with a poetry slam and open mic in Lydia’s Lounge.
“We would love for the topic to be somewhat related to sexual assault, but really we want people to express themselves in any way,” Hawkins said. “This is our big ending event, and there will be tons of free food and hopefully there will be a lot of participation.”
If anyone has been a victim of sexual assault or knows of one, there are many resources available on Bradley’s campus and in the Peoria community including the Center for Prevention of Abuse’s 24-hour hotline and Bradley’s Center for Student Support Services. If a student wishes to remain anonymous, Health Services in Markin or the counseling offices in the basement of Markin are always available alternatives.
