In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Syracuse University’s Office of Health Promotion will host events through April aimed at raising awareness about sexual violence. The office has collaborated with other organizations in the SU community — including the Office of Equal Opportunity, Inclusion, and Resolution Services and It’s On Us — along with community organizations like Vera House. 

The first initiative of the week, known nationally as Teal Tuesday, aims to encourage community members to wear teal to show support for survivors of sexual violence. Throughout the month, there will be an ongoing contest in which participants will decorate their dorm doors and offices in teal to spread awareness. Students are also invited to share how they will work to end violence using the hashtag “#IWillTBTN” on social media posts, which stands for “I will take back the night.” 

SURVIVING THE SILENCE: A Conversation on Race and Sexual Assault, a panel discussion covering the topics of race and sexual assault, will take place in Goldstein Auditorium on Wednesday at 7 p.m. On Thursday, there will be a resource fair and panel discussion about campus resources.  

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Christina Percoski, the training and development specialist in the Office of Equal Opportunity, Inclusion, and Resolution Services, said the process of reporting sexual violence through the university is student-driven. She hopes the fair will make students more aware of all of the resources at their disposal. 

“If I could have every student know how to support their friends, that would be a huge accomplishment,” Percoski said.  

The resource fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Schine Student Center in room 228B, complemented by a panel beginning at noon. An educational workshop will be held Thursday at 7 p.m., including activist and former It’s On Us organizer Samantha Skaller. Volunteer opportunities are also available for It’s On Us throughout the rest of the month.  

Other events include a comedy show centered on healthy relationships and masculinity, a documentary screening and a forum on race and sexual assault. One of the last events of the month, Yoga as Healing, will take place on April 24 in the Flanagan Gym Exercise Room. The trauma-informed yoga aims to heal through meditation and regulating the nervous system.  

Percoski said that when planning these events, coordinators keep in mind how such topics may affect survivors. Each event offers resources like counselors on hand. Outside of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Percoski works to provide these resources to events relating to sexual violence throughout the year.  

In years past, turnout has been less than ideal, Percoski said, but it’s increasing every year. Two years ago, about five students came to the resource fair — last year, there were 25. Percoski said she hopes for at least 50 at this year’s.  

To Percoski, being able to provide support and educate the campus community is what makes the event a success. 

“Unless you’re affected, it’s not on your radar,” Percoski said. “As long as we’re there, and we can give information, even if it makes a difference in one person’s life … that would make it a success.”  

Percoski added that while there are a lot of myths and fears surrounding the process of reporting sexual assault, students seem to have become more informed over the years — a fact which she attributes, in part, to increased media coverage and awareness of sexual assault.  

“Get involved. Even if you don’t think it affects you,” Percoski said. “When we see things from different perspectives, we’re more empathetic and we become more connected and better community members.”  

Published on March 31, 2019 at 11:35 pm