UNR students, faculty and staff stand up for sexual assault awareness

Since the February release of results from a student survey regarding sexual conduct and safety, a number of efforts to strengthen a supportive campus climate, one with zero tolerance for sexual assault, sexual misconduct and other life-damaging actions, have been put in place at the University of Nevada, Reno.

In March, the University launched a 24-hour Sexual Assault/Sexual Misconduct Hotline, allowing students, faculty and staff to report incidents that occur on or off campus. The caller may remain anonymous if he/she chooses. The hotline phone number is 775-784-1030.

This month, the University’s first-ever victim advocate, Justine Hernandez, starts full time on campus. Hernandez is a violence prevention education and outreach specialist who has been with the Crisis Call Center for two-and-a-half years. Her important, grant-funded position will provide confidential crisis intervention, information, referral and accompaniment to medical and legal services as requested by students and employees.

The University’s administration aren’t the only ones adding resources for students. The Associate Students of the University of Nevada adopted a resolution to include a safety app called Circle of 6 in the This is Nevada app. Circle of 6 was the “winner of the 2011 White House and HHS ‘Apps Against Abuse Technology Challenge and winner of the Avon Foundation for Women/Institute of Medicine ‘Ending Violence @Home.’” The app is designed to quickly connect students with six friends. Two touches lets a student’s circle know where he or she is. The app is designed for college students, is fast, private and easy-to-use.

These resources, along with a number of existing on-campus resources including free counseling through the University’s Counseling Center, have allowed the University to continue strengthening its ability to support victims.

“The goal is to continuously educate people about what they can do to stop sexual assault before it happens,” Jo Harvey, the University’s prevention coordinator said. “There are a number of activities and events throughout the year and this month we’re hoping to get the word out to the entire campus about how they can get involved and show that this is a type of behavior that will not be tolerated at the University.”

During the month of April, the University community of students, faculty and staff will provide additional education, resources and ideas around stopping sexual violence on campus.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month Events – #ProtectOurPack

Laverne Cox, star of the Netflix television series, “Orange is the New Black”
7 p.m., Thursday, April 9
Milt Glick Ballrooms, Joe Crowley Student Union
Transgender activist and Netflix television series star Laverne Cox will share her journey to womanhood. Cox is the first transgender woman of color to have a leading role on a mainstream scripted television show. Her talk will cover the topics of gender, equality and inclusiveness. The event is free for students and $20 for the community. Tickets are available at the Nevada Wolf Shop. Students who follow ASUN’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram have the chance to meet Cox in person after her talk. ASUN will give away five pairs of meet-and-greet tickets to current students at the University. Visit ASUN’s Facebook page, facebook.com/nevadaASUN for more information.

It’s on Us Information Event
11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Wednesday, April 15
Inspired by the national It’s on Us campaign, students will sign a pledge to stand against sexual assault. The signatures will then be strung together via a paper chain and hung from the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center. For more information, contact Raina Benford, rbenford@unr.edu.

The Mask You Live In – Documentary Film and Panel Presentation
6:45 p.m., Tuesday, April 21
Milt Glick Ballroom A, The Joe Crowley Student Union
The University’s I STAND campaign, in partnership with the Crisis Call Center and the Associated Students of the University of Nevada, will show the documentary “The Mask You Live In,” a film about gender expectations, masculinity and violence. A panel discussion will follow with:
Tory Clark, Community Health Sciences faculty member and community sex therapist
Lori Fralik, Reno Police Department victim services
Brian Polian, Nevada Football head coach
Thomas Harrison, College of Education associate dean, professor of counseling and licensed marriage and family therapist
Jody Lykes, student development coordinator, Center for Student Cultural Diversity
Marcelo Vazquez, associate dean of students, University of Nevada, Reno
For more information, contact Jo Harvey, 775-784-4388 or charvey@unr.edu.

Green Dot Training
10 a.m., Saturday, April 25
Location to be determined
Based on the national Green Dot initiative, the training will educate students on how to identify situations that could lead to an act of violence and show them how to intervene safely and effectively before it happens. The Green Dot model believes all community members have the potential to be active bystanders and seeks to engage them through awareness, education and skills-practice to prevent violence.
For more information, contact Jo Harvey, 775-784-4388 or charvey@unr.edu.

Stomp Out Sexual Assault
8 a.m., Saturday, April 25
The Quad, University of Nevada, Reno
The University’s Army ROTC will host a 5K march, walk, roll or run. The event will start and finish at the Quad and the route will be throughout the University. Awards will be given for the most colorful boots, most creative boots, boots with the most school spirit, most battle-worn boots, boots with high heels, boots making the loudest statement and more. The event encourages participants to “Take the Pledge to Protect & Respect” and help stomp out sexual assault. Registration for the event will be day-of at the Quad from 7 to 7:55 a.m. The event is free and open to the public. Teams are asked to bring a roster of participants to the table during sign ups. For more information, contact Michael Perry, 775-813-0063 or michaelperry@unr.edu.

Denim Day
Wednesday, April 29
Student Health Services at the University of Nevada, Reno invites everyone to wear denim, Wednesday, April 29 in support of Denim Day, a sexual violence prevention and education campaign. The campaign was originally triggered by a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court where a rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans she must have helped her rapist remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim. Peace Over Violence developed the Denim Day campaign in the U.S. in response to this case and the activism surrounding it. Since then, wearing jeans on Denim Day has become a symbol of protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes about sexual assault. There will be a denim display in the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center the entire week of April 27. For more information, contact Enid Jennings, ejennings@medicine.nevada.edu.

Take Back the Night
5-8 p.m., Thursday, April 30
Gateway Plaza outside the Joe Crowley Student Union
Join students, faculty and staff as they rally, march and hear survivors speak-out to end sexual assault. Take Back the Night encourages survivors to speak out, offering a space where survivors are met with a crowd who supports and believes in them. The event is organized by VOX: Voices for Planned Parenthood, and is anticipated to attract more than 300 participants. The event will end with a talk about how to change rape culture by creating a consent culture, by supporting survivors and by speaking out against sexual assault. For more information, visit facebook.com/voxunr or contact Madeleine Poore, mpoore@unr.edu.

— Nicole Shearer is a Communications Officer for the University of Nevada, Reno. She can be reached at nshearer@unr.edu