Jennie Hemingway, PhD
Director of Title IX & Civil Rights Compliance
April is recognized nationally as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. The goal of SAAPM is to raise awareness about sexual violence and educate communities on how to prevent it. Throughout the month of April, Knox College will offer interactive and informative programming opportunities to come together and discuss the ways in which sexual violence impacts our community, with a focus on the national theme, ‘Drawing Connections: Prevention Demands Equity”. There will be programming on normalizing a consent culture, interactive opportunities for learning through the exploration of boundaries and self-care, information on the role each of us has in creating a protective community for ourselves and others, and opportunities to support those affected by trauma.
Talk About It Tuesday: Preview of SAAPM Events and Activities
Lunch & Dinner, Seymour Gallery
As we head into April, this week’s #TalkAboutItTuesday we will share information about the upcoming events, answering questions, and offering students the opportunity to take part in the “Dear Survivor” campaign by writing an anonymous note of encouragement and support. Visit our social media pages (@knoxdaretocare on Instagram) for our weekly post, and stop by our table in Seymour Gallery during meal times for an interactive activity!
Request a swag bag of teal items to show your support for survivors! Items will be delivered to your K-Box and we will give away one free t-shirt each week. To be eligible for the free t-shirt, post to social media showing a teal bracelet, button, or ribbon, using #KnoxWearsTeal and tagging @KnoxDareToCare. Request your bag of swag here. Online and in-person.
This project is a platform through which members of the Knox community can share anonymous words of support to offer solidarity to all survivors of sexual and gender-based harassment and violence. Entrees will be shared through public space around campus and via social media. Submit your anonymous note online here or fill out a ‘Dear Survivor’ postcard on campus. Online and in-person.
Stop by Seymour Library (near the accessible entrance) any time during the month of April to see a specially curated display celebrating Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. The display will feature some of Dare to Care Peer Educators’ favorite books on topics related to consent, healthy relationships, and healthy sexuality. In-person.
Talk About It Tuesday: Active Bystander Intervention
Lunch & Dinner, Seymour Gallery
In the first week of this important month, our #TalkAboutItTuesday will highlight the C.A.R.E. acronym as critical steps in the action plan to be an active bystander, and asks ‘What is your bystander superpower?’
Chances are, someone in your life is a survivor of sex or gender-based harassment, assault, or abuse, even if they've never shared their story with you. Participating in the SAAPM Day of Action is a great way to show you support survivors and are a safe person to reach out to. Show your support for survivors on the Day of Action by wearing teal — and then sharing a selfie on social media. Post your photo using the hashtag #SAAPM2023 and #KnoxDareToCare. All themed entrees using these hashtags will be entered into a drawing for a prize. Online and in-person.
Game Night with D2C Peer Educators
6:00 p.m., The Gizmo
Prizes? Popcorn?
Join the Dare to Care peer educators in the Gizmo for some fun learning about inclusive sex ed, healthy relationships, boundaries, and more! Popcorn and prizes! In-person.
Students Fight Back Violence Prevention and Self-Defense
7:30 p.m., Trustees Room (302), Alumni Hall
Students Fight Back is a gender-inclusive program that provides practical and empowering options to learn violence prevention. This in-person workshop being co-sponsored by Union Board includes skills to hone your intuition awareness, as well as safety tips - awareness, eye contact, verbal boundaries, how to be an active bystander and ally, consent, supporting survivors, how to set boundaries that work for you, verbal de-escalation skills, the basics of self-defense, and more! Presented virtually by nationally recognized self-defense expert, facilitator, and advocate Nicole Snell, participants should wear comfortable loose-fitting attire. In-person.
Talk About It Tuesday: The Importance of Making Self-Care a Habit
Lunch & Dinner, Seymour Gallery
In this week’s #TalkAboutItTuesay, we are asking the questions, ‘How do you practice self care Where/when do you prioritize self care?’ and offering small activities to do or take along.
Workshop Wednesday: A Consent Conversation
7:30 p.m., Ferris Lounge, Seymour Union
Led by D2C peer educators, this event is a dialogue about consent, boundaries, and community. We’ll cover the basics with lots of room to dig deeper.
'Growing Together' with The Knox Farm and Students for Sustainability
4:30 p.m., The Knox Farm
Together with staff and volunteers from The Knox Farm, this is a self-care event where participants can be immersed in seed-planting and transplanting, with a focus on calendula, a favorite flower to grow at The Knox Farm with multiple benefits in the garden and when made into herbal remedies. We will end the session with a short group reflection on how working with the Earth intersects with well-being.
Talk About It Tuesday: Boundaries, Healthy Relationships, and Power
Lunch & Dinner, Seymour Gallery
Learning ways to say ‘yes’ and ‘no’, to establish boundaries as part of healthy relationships, with attention on power the ways in which power differences exist is the topic for this week’s #TalkABoutItTuesday.
Let’s Talk Religion and Sex: A Panel Discussion
7:30 p.m., HOPE Center
A panel discussion moderated by Director of Spiritual Life Dan Marlin and Title IX Coordinator Kim Schrader, with student panelists coming from different faith-based systems and experiences, sharing answers to questions about sex, sexuality, and gender (roles, identities, orientation) and how these topics are treated within the different practices and beliefs.
Earth Day Festival
12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., Gizmo Lawn
Stop by the D2C peer educator’s booth to learn more about reusable and sustainable menstrual products and services. FREE giveaways!
Talk About It Tuesday: Featuring WIRC Victim Services
Lunch & Dinner, Seymour Gallery
This week on #TalkAboutItTuesday WIRC Victim Services will be our guest presenter, sharing information on supporting survivors generally, especially focused on how to be a resource for friends and/or loved ones and/or acquaintances who are survivors. Visit our social media pages (@knoxdaretocare on Instagram) for the weekly post, and stop by our table in Seymour Gallery during meal times to learn more from WIRC Victim Services.
D2C Peer Educators Self-Care and Community Building Event
7:30 p.m., Alumni Room, Old Main
A simple evening of self-care, featuring journal prompts, music, table topics for those who are interested, and more – all in the name of building community and connection with ourselves and one another.
National Denim Day
National Denim Day is a campus-wide initiative to help bring awareness to the harmful effects of victim-blaming and rape myths, and help dismantle rape culture. This is an invitation for every member of the Knox community to wear denim.
‘Rise Up With Knox’
5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Gizmo Patio
Table Fair, Speaker, and Awareness/Support activity
Join the D2C peer educators and other campus organizations at a table fair on the Gizmo Patio. Our topic will be demonstrating active bystander intervention with skills and practices. The table fair will be followed by a guest speaker and will conclude with a pledge/commitment/awareness event.