NSU focuses on sexual assault awareness

(Tahlequah, Okla.)-- Northeastern State University President Dr. Steve Turner signed a proclamation on April 3, declaring April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month at NSU.

It stated: At NSU, we must work together to educate our community about sexual violence prevention, supporting survivors, and speaking out against harmful attitudes and actions.

Turner said the proclamation was in line with NSUs purpose of providing a quality education to students.

We can only be successful in accomplishing this mission by providing our students with a safe and respectful environment. We all play a role in the prevention of sexual violence and have a responsibility to speak out against harmful attitudes and actions. This proclamation serves as a call to action for each of us to do our part to prevent sexual violence.

Jennifer Cole-Robinson, the coordinator of NSUs Violence Prevention Program, also described the proclamation as a necessary addition to the Universitys prevention strategies.

The greatest benefit of President Turner signing the proclamation is it sets a tone for the university, stating we want to support survivors, educate and bring awareness of sexual assault at NSU, and create a safe environment, Cole-Robinson said.

To support this objective, NSUsViolence Prevention Programhas lined-up activities to promote awareness.

The Clothes Line Project runs throughout April, where students create shirts with empowering statements, encouraging healing and disclosure.These are on display at the University Center on the Tahlequah campus.

I hope to create an environment on campus encouraging victims to come forward and feel safe disclosing, Cole-Robinson said.

NSU will also be partnering with Help In Crisis, Inc. to participate in Walk a Mile on April 18 at Norris Park.

Adapted from the popular campaign, A Walk a Mile in Her Shoes Event, it is an opportunity for men to literally walk a mile in womens high-heeled shoes.

The point of the walk is to start the difficult conversation aboutsexual violence against women within communities.

Denim Day is April 29, and the NSU community is encouraged to wear jeans.

Denim Day was originally triggered by a ruling in 1998 in the Italian Supreme Court where a rape conviction was overturned because it was felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans, she must have helped her rapist remove them, thereby implying consent.

The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim.

Denim Day was developed in response to this case, and wearing jeans on a designatedWednesdayin April, has become a symbol of protest against misconceptions and destructive attitudes toward sexual assault.

Finally, NSU will be screening a movie that addresses sexual assault on college campuses called, Hunting Ground, which will be followed by a panel discussion. The tentative date is April 27.

For more information about the events,contact Jennifer Cole-Robinson at 918-444-2082