Between 9/11 and the day of service, suicide awareness month and the beginning of fall and school, there are many important events that happen in the month of September that should be recognized. For Snow College, one of those events was Sexual Assault Awareness week.
From September 11 to 13, Snow College did a Sexual Assault Awareness week. Sexual assault is something that happens more often than we think, and through this week Snow College let those who have been assaulted know that they are not alone.
The events that Snow College did for the awareness were as follows:
- Monday – Kick off
- Tuesday – Wear teal/blue
- Wednesday – Treats and prizes at the bell tower
Along with those events, posters were displayed around the campus giving inspirational quotes, messages, quick information on sexual assault, and where to go if you have been assaulted.
Zach McEntire, the Civil Rights Investigator at Snow College, gave some insight about the Sexual Assault Awareness Week. McEntire stated that “the biggest thing with this event (sexual assault awarness week) is a flag display. Each flag represents one person that will experience sexual violence while at college.”
McEntire explained that one in every five women and one in every sixteen men experience some sort of sexual assault while at college. Sexual assault or violence is much more common than believed. The reason these statistics may be so shocking is the fact that sexual harassment isn’t talked about that much. Sadly, those who have experienced it could’ve been threatened or didn’t know how to ask for help. McEntire responded to this by saying, “It happens to a lot of people. There are resources and people who want to help. Help is there, you just have to say something.”
As McEntire put it, “We should talk about it (sexual assault) because it is a reality, it happens.” The more you know, the better you are at helping yourself and helping others. There are orders in place like Title IX to protect students from sexual assault and stalking as well as making sure things are fair for both males and females in educational settings. Here at Snow College, “we help people with resources and counseling to connect with people so their education doesn’t flounder,” says McEntire. Law enforcement is another place to go if a person is struggling with sexual assault or violence.
For the students at Snow College, McEntire said that he wants them to know about our theme: “Ask, listen, and respect.” Have healthy relationships with everyone. He said, “I’d like them to learn how to make and communicate boundaries, ask for consent, and how to show respect for everyone.”
Sexual assault happens everywhere, not just on college campuses. It is important that we as individuals know how to communicate with our partner, listen and respect the decisions of the people around us.
Be the change, the cause and the fight. The hardest battles are the ones that most can’t see. So if you know someone who has been sexually assaulted, be there for them; help them get help and be part of the movement to bring awareness to sexual assault. And remember, the help is there. It may be hard, but all you have to do is say something.
– by Ari Hurdsman
Feature image caption: One in five females experiences sexual assault while at college, along with one in sixteen males. According to those statistics, each flag represents one person who will likely be a victim of sexual violence.
Ari Hurdsman – Junction
Ari Hurdsman is a junior journalist at the Byway. She just recently moved to Ephraim, Utah, where she is a freshman at Snow College. She enjoys writing about Piute sports, and she’s really good at it! In her free time, she enjoys singing, dancing, reading and hanging out with friends and family.