Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2024
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), and Project Safe is offering awareness-raising, educational, and skill-building programs all month long, including Empowerment Self-Defense classes, guest speakers including Monica Lewinsky, Dr. JJ Wright, and more. Join us in the West End Neighborhood at 5 PM on April 3 for our SAAM Kick-Off along Kensington Avenue from 5-7 PM. We’ll host our annual Survivor Speak-out on April 16 this year. Contact Project Safe to pick up lantern decorating supplies! Please see our full calendar below.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @VUProjectSafe to participate in Project Safe’s #SAAM2024 efforts (and to find our easily shareable content — please spread the word!). Full event information may be found on Anchor Link.
April 2024 Printable SAAM Calendar (PDF)
VU SAAM 2024 Programs and Events
Faculty & Staff Professional Development Series — Wednesdays throughout April
Each Wednesday at noon throughout the month of April, you can bring your lunch and join fellow faculty and staff in learning more about University resources and procedures.
- Wednesday, April 3: Supporting Those Impacted by Sexual Harassment or Assault (webinar)
- Wednesday, April 10: What is a “rape kit”? A SANE Nurse Explains the Forensic Exam (webinar)
- Wednesday, April 17: When Sexual Misconduct Impacts a Student Organization (in-person workshop in Rand 308)
- Wednesday, April 24: Understanding Title IX Incident Reporting and the Investigative Process (webinar)
SAAM Wellness Wednesday — Wednesday, April 3, 11:30 AM, Rand Wall
Self-Care can sometimes be difficult. Stop by the Rand Wall to pick up some fun tools to help relieve stress and talk about tips and strategies. Wellness Wednesdays are cosponsored by the Center for Student Wellbeing.
SAAM Kick-Off Block Party — Wednesday, April 3, 5-7 PM West End Neighborhood
Join Project Safe, Greek Life, and the Student Health Center for a block party to celebrate Sexual Assault Awareness Month! The evening will include self-defense training, a panel on sexual health, lantern decorating, and more.
Consensuality Workshop with Your Sex Positive Asian Auntie — Thursday, April 4, 5:30 PM, Rand 308
Sex Educator Jayda Shuavarnnasri, known as Your Sex Positive Asian Auntie, helps illuminate how sensuality is distinct from sexuality. This workshop will help participants consider the potential of daily sensual practices as a till for healing shame and trauma. Participants will be guided through playful sensuality activities that can help reconnect the mind and body. The workshop will conclude with a roundtable discussion during which participants will have informal, open dialogue and be able to ask Jayda any questions around sexuality or relationships.
Somatic Healing Space with the University Counseling Center: Checking in With Your Body — Monday, April 8, 12 PM, Sarratt 189
Did you know that our bodies hold our emotions and experiences? Have you ever experienced tension in your muscles, butterflies in your stomach, or a headache and didn’t know where it was coming from? Please join us for a somatic healing space where UCC providers will engage participants in experiential exercises to encourage the mind-body connection. Our somatic healing space is rooted in helping participants improve their body awareness and learn techniques to release physical tension. This event is offered by the University Counseling Center.
Stronger Together: A Pillow Talk Discussion for Women of Color — Monday, April 8, 7 PM, Multicultural Community Space
Join Project Safe and The Student Center for Social Justice and Identity for Stronger Together: A Pillow Talk Discussion for Women of Color. The purpose of Stronger Together is to provide healing and inspiration. This event will serve as a safe space for Women of Color to be their authentic self, share knowledge, receive insight, and connect with like-minded women. Be a part of engaging conversation while exploring topics that focus on healthy sexuality and the triumphs of being a Black Women.
Stalking & Sexual Violence: Understanding the Intersections — Tuesday, April 9, 1 PM, Sarratt 363
As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2024, Project Safe is featuring this webinar from the national Stalking Prevention, Awareness, and Resource Center. Sexual violence and stalking are both prevalent, commonly misunderstood, and severely underreported victimizations. In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, this webinar explores the intersection of stalking and sexual violence, focusing on similarities, co-occurrence, and strategies to support victims and survivors.
Join us in Sarratt 363 for snacks and SAAM swag or join on your online https://www.stalkingawareness.org/upcoming-events/.
The Politics of Sexual Violence: A Discussion on Rape Exceptions to Abortion Bans — Tuesday, April 9, 5:30 PM, Buttrick 301
Join Project Safe for a discussion on how rape exceptions to abortion bans impact those seeking care. The discussion will be led by Tia Freeman, Director of Training and Community Outreach at the Nashville Sexual Assault Center.
SAAM Wellness Wednesday — Wednesday, April 10, 11:30 AM, Rand Wall
Self-Care can sometimes be difficult. Stop by the Rand Wall to pick up some fun tools to help relieve stress and talk about tips and strategies. Wellness Wednesdays are cosponsored by the Center for Student Wellbeing.
Webinar: What is a Rape Kit? A SANE Nurse Explains the Forensic Exam — Wednesday, April 10, 12 PM, Online
Join Project Safe and Student Health’s Dara Dixon during this lunchtime webinar to learn about the various steps and protocols of the forensic examination, also known as the SANE exam or “rape kit” that survivors sometimes obtain in the aftermath of sexual assault.
VSAAP Presents Monica Lewinsky — Wednesday, April 10, 8:00 PM, Langford Auditorium
Vanderbilt Student Government, along with many campus partners, host Monica Lewinsky who will talk about experiencing shaming and online harassment and finding ways to cope and heal through humor, her support network, and advocacy work that has become her driving purpose.
To purchase tickets, click HERE.
Lantern Decorating Party — Thursday, April 11, 1 PM, outside Project Safe
Join us as we decorate lanterns for Sexual Assault Awareness Month! Each year we decorate lanterns to hang around campus as a way to raise awareness and show our solidarity with survivors. Bring your creativity, decorate a lantern, and hang it up to show your support for the survivors on our campus.
She Said Film Screening — Thursday, April 11, 5 PM, Calhoun 109
As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Project Safe is hosting a screening of the 2022 film She Said. in She Said, Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan star as New York Times reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor, who together broke one of the most important stories in a generation–a story that shattered decades of silence around the subject of sexual assault in Hollywood and impelled a shift in American culture that continues to this day.
One Love Dating Violence Awareness Lacrosse Game — Saturday, April 13, 12 PM Lacrosse Complex
In partnership with Athletics, the Lacrosse team will raise awareness about relationship violence and the One Love Foundation. The foundation was created in honor of UVA Lacrosse player Yeardley Love, who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend.
ASSERT Empowerment Self-Defense — Sunday, April 14, 3 PM Sarratt 363
Join Project Safe and local woman-owned self-defense training program ASSERT for this FREE class teaching trauma-informed, inclusive, non-victim-blaming, assertiveness-building, boundary-setting, and de-escalation self-defense techniques. This series ends with a fun, optional on-campus board-breaking ceremony! Free and open to all students, staff, post-docs, and faculty.
ASSERT Empowerment Self-Defense for Faculty and Staff — Monday, April 15, 12 PM Sarratt 363
Join Project Safe and local woman-owned self-defense training program ASSERT for this FREE class teaching trauma-informed, inclusive, non-victim-blaming, assertiveness-building, boundary-setting, and de-escalation self-defense techniques. This series ends with a fun, optional on-campus board-breaking ceremony! Free and open to all staff, post-docs, and faculty.
Missing Murdered, Sexually Assaulted, Abused and Trafficked Indigenous People — Monday, April 15, 4 PM Calhoun 109 and Online
Project Safe hosts VUSN Assistant Professor Dr. Gloria Littlemouse, PhD, RN, MSN-Ed, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing and Watson Caring Science Fellow-Scholar, for this talk about the high rates of sexual violence experienced by American Indian and Alaska Native women. This program will be offered in person and on Zoom.
Survivor Speak Out, Read Out — Tuesday, April 16, 8-9 PM, 206 Alumni Hall
At this annual program, survivors will have the opportunity to share their experiences and the impact violence has had on their lives. Participants can come to listen, offer support, read prepared remarks or excerpts of inspirational writing, or share freely. This is intended to be a safe space for all. Project Safe and UCC staff will be on hand to support anyone who may need it. *Community members who are designated mandatory reporters may attend and/or participate at this program without triggering their mandatory reporting obligation.
Wellness Wednesday — Wednesday, April 17, 11:30 AM, Rand Wall
Self-Care can sometimes be difficult. Stop by the Rand Wall to pick up some fun tools to help relieve stress and talk about tips and strategies. Cosponsored by the Center for Student Wellbeing.
When Sexual Misconduct Impacts a Student Organization — Wednesday, April 17, 12 PM, Rand 308
Bring your lunch and join staff from the Project Safe Center and Title IX Office. This session is designed for faculty and staff who advise and support student organizations. We will help you understand the appropriate and important role you have in responding to reported incidents of sexual misconduct and the resources available to help support the students they serve.
ASSERT Empowerment Self-Defense — Wednesday, April 17, 6:30 PM Sarratt 363
Join Project Safe and local woman-owned self-defense training program ASSERT for this FREE class teaching trauma-informed, inclusive, non-victim-blaming, assertiveness-building, boundary-setting, and de-escalation self-defense techniques. This series ends with a fun, optional on-campus board-breaking ceremony! Free and open to all students, staff, post-docs, and faculty.
Learning from Queer and Trans Joy: Cultivating Just, Pleasurable, and Affirming Sexual Cultures — Thursday, April 18, 2 PM, Online
This event will include discussion of the lessons from the Queer Sexual Joy project, which explored how queer and trans joy disrupt the homophobic, transphobic, racist, sexist, ableist, and classist systems of oppression that lead to gender-based violence. Dr. JJ Wright, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Gender Studies at MacEwan University, will share strategies for ways we can help keep each other safe and apply lessons learned from the project to our efforts in building an anti-violent world. REGISTER HERE.
ASSERT Empowerment Self-Defense — Thursday, April 18, 6:30 PM Sarratt 363
Join Project Safe and local woman-owned self-defense training program ASSERT for this FREE class teaching trauma-informed, inclusive, non-victim-blaming, assertiveness-building, boundary-setting, and de-escalation self-defense techniques. This series ends with a fun, optional on-campus board-breaking ceremony! Free and open to all students, staff, post-docs, and faculty.
Wellness Wednesday — Wednesday, April 24, 11:30 am, Rand Wall
Self-Care can sometimes be difficult. Stop by the Rand Wall to pick up some fun tools to help relieve stress and talk about tips and strategies. Cosponsored by the Center for Student Wellbeing.
Webinar: Understanding Title IX Incident Reporting and the Investigative Process — Wednesday, April 24, 12 PM, Online
Join Project Safe and Title IX for this SAAM webinar. William Porter, Title IX Training Specialist for Policy & Prevention, in Vanderbilt’s Title IX Office will offer this online workshop. Designed to enhance understanding of Title IX processes, this session will review the components and steps of the incident reporting and investigation processes. Additionally, it will highlight the support, resources, and assistance available to parties involved. All are welcome. This program is ideal for faculty and staff and anyone with mandatory reporting responsibilities.
Observe SAAM Wherever You Are
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center offers many free, online resources available to survivors, activists, allies, prevention educators, and friends and family members of survivors. Learn about the history of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM).
There are several online resources offering ideas for online or virtual education and activist efforts. Consider how you may be able to offer or participate in the following awareness, prevention education, and culture change efforts.
- The National Sexual Violence Resource Center offers a variety of free online guides, downloads, and other resources to help you observe Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) and engage in prevention education all year long. Browse their SAAM guide here https://www.nsvrc.org/saam.
- Education and Awareness raising – social media, email newsletter, webinars
- The #MeToo Movement provides information, toolkits, guides for taking action, and resources for survivors, activists, allies, friends and family
- We As Ourselves is a new collaboration, powered by The ‘me too’ Movement, National Women’s Law Center, and TIME’S UP Foundation to reshape the narrative around sexual violence and its impact on Black survivors
- The Asian Pacific Institute on Gender Based Violence is a national resource center on domestic violence, sexual violence, trafficking, and other forms of gender-based violence in Asian/Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities
- EVERFI Blog and EVERFI White Papers make great, easy to share educational resources and EVERFI Case Studies and Webinars are ideal for providing education and professional development for staff and faculty
- The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) How Social Media can Amplify your SAAM Message
- One Student offers free, shareable online videos and downloads addressing ways to support survivors, engage as bystanders, activists, and allies
- The One Love Foundation offers videos, articles, and virtual training for preventing dating violence
- Ending Violence Against Women International (EVAWI) offers free online training modules
- Participate in the #30DaysofSAAM Instagram contest to engage others in a fun and creative way. Follow @NSVRC on Instagram to get daily prompts during the month of April and then respond to them with a photo using #30DaysofSAAM and tag @NSVRC.
- Participate in Survivor Love Letter, a movement for survivors of sexual assault and their allies to publicly celebrate their lives. It was started by filmmaker and activist, Tani Ikeda in 2012 on the anniversary of her rape where she penned a letter to her younger self that ended with the words: “this is my survivor love letter.” Since then, #SurvivorLoveLetter has rippled out and become a hashtag, a letter writing campaign, a national mural project, and a viral social movement. These letters have immersed thousands of survivors with the message that not only are they believed, not only are they supported, they are loved.
- Political advocacy and activism may conducted online (emails, hashtags, direct messages, petitions)
- Participate in political advocacy during SAAM by writing letters to local, state, territory, tribal, and national government officials about policies related to sexual violence that impact your community like rape kit backlogs and statutes of limitations.
- Provide information and templates to community members – including young people – to encourage them to participate in this campaign.
- Host a Twitter Chat to raise awareness, educate, and engage your followers. Advertise your Twitter account and the Twitter chat on your other existing forms of social media. Designate a specific timeframe to begin and end your chat. Typically, a chat time of one hour works well. Prepare a list of questions to ask your followers. Prepare some facts to share. Be sure to designate a hashtag for your chat or chat series and include it you’re your questions and in every related tweet. Encourage participants to please use the hashtag, which allows for others to read the conversation later, if they were not able to participate in real time. Retweet participant answers, as appropriate, and like participant tweets, and thank everyone for participating at the end.
- Host a virtual event using the Facebook Live feature by streaming your event your Facebook audience in real time. Participants may watch, listen, and/or comment throughout your video. If some staff continue reporting to work or other site, you may use a computer webcam or smartphone to broadcast a discussion, book group, or other interactive program. That Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs offers free discussion guides online.
- Host an online pledge drive. Using any social media platform, designate a theme or call to action and a hashtag. This may be conducted over a period of days or weeks. Link to an online article, blogpost, or other resource to help educate your followers on a certain issue. You may participate in existing online pledge efforts (It’s On Us and No More, for example) or tailor this effort to an existing program or slogan for your community.
- Hold a virtual movie screening and online discussion. Your college or university library may offer a tool to screen movies for free online, or you can simply encourage people to watch the same film on their preferred provider and then join for a Facebook Live facilitated video discussion or to use Facebook or Twitter for an online chat. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center offers ideas for movies to screen during SAAM.
- Host an online trivia night or other game. WCSAP offers SAAM Bingo cards and a blank template. Consider hosting this virtually, using Zoom Meeting, Facebook Live, or other video streaming platform. The stakes should be low, as, depending upon the activity, it may be challenging to ensure fair play using online methods; however, if goal of the activity remains focused on education and prevention, it matters less who wins. If someone on your team has access to your program’s swag, perhaps you could offer to mail the prize to the winner. If your organization sells merchandise, the prize could be a discount code. Consider ways to create a PDF prize, such as SAAM coloring sheets or an activity book that may be sent to the winner electronically.
- Host your own social media content contest on a certain topic. For example, if you were planning on hosting an awareness quilt activity, ask followers to use Canva or other content creation service to create an Instagram post. With enough participants and intentional posting, you can create a virtual quilt on Instagram, or someone can combine the images into a larger image that may be shared via email, saved as a PDF, featured on your website, or shared online.
- Offer Recommended Reading lists and an online version of a book discussion, whether video, online chat, or social media comments.
Accessibility Considerations
EVERFI Blog: “Nothing About Us Without Us”: Making Wellness Accessible