Students, staff and faculty at San Diego State are gearing up for a week-long series of events focused around sexual violence awareness, transparency and prevention.
Take Back the Week, which runs from April 25-29, brings attention to these issues through discussions, marches, films and support groups. Aztecs for Awareness is organizing the events, in collaboration with other on-campus groups including Associated Students, Active Minds, FratMANers, SISSTER, One SDSU, Aztec Pride and the Women’s Resource Center.
“TBTW focuses on bringing the campus together to demonstrate our campus support to creating a safe space for all of our fellow Aztecs,” said Tanisha Scorza, president of Aztecs for Awareness. “We believe this week is important because sexual violence affects everyone, regardless of gender, race or orientation. We are asking all of our fellow Aztecs to take a stand against sexual violence and join us.”
Monday: We are survivors
Take Back the Week begins on Monday, April 25 with a ceremonial kickoff and community teal ribbon event at noon in the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union. Keynote speaker Jeff Bucholtz will give an address at 1:30 p.m.
Bucholtz is the director of We End Violence, an organization that provides workshops and lectures centered around violence prevention and survivor empowerment.
In addition to these events, a resource expo will be held on Centennial Walkway from noon to 4 p.m.
The day is rounded out with guest speaker Kevin Hines, who will speak about his personal experiences that led to the creation of his memoir, “Cracked Not Broken.”
Tuesday: We are not alone
FratMANers and SISSTER will be hosting a support event titled “Supporting Victims, Ourselves, and Each Other” at 1 p.m. in the Templo Mayor room of the union.
One SDSU will host “Let’s Talk: Intersections of Sexual Violence” from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Union Theater.
Wednesday: We are valuable
The SDSU community is invited to “Take a Pledge Against Sexual Assault” in the student union courtyard from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A showing of the documentary “Un-Slut” is set to take place in the Union Theater from 1 to 4 p.m. The film explores the causes and effects of sexual shaming and the potential solutions at a personal, local and institutional level.
Thursday: We are supported
The Women’s Resource Center is offering a private Survivor Circle in the center from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Later, the Andrea O’Donnell Womyn Outreach Association will be leading the “Take Back the Night” discussion and campus march. The event begins in the courtyard of the student union at 4 p.m.
Friday: We are the change
The week concludes with a discussion on rape culture and social change, hosted by the Women’s Resource Center, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
