April is sexual assault prevention month, and WKU announced a variety of events for students to attend.

All month, there is an “Ink Exposed” exhibit in the ISEC student gallery that students can experience, as well as a “Support a Survivor Supply Drive” where students can donate non-spiral journals, composition books and fidget to spinners to Hope Harbor, the WKU Counseling Center, Student Activities and the social work department. 

There was a kick off event in the DSU courtyard on Monday, March 27 for students to go and learn more about sexual assault prevention month. Additionally, there was an Inbounds Youth Event, a program for grades six through eight, at the Bowling Green Ballpark on Monday.

There will be a statewide proclamation on Thursday, March 30 from 2 to 4 p.m. in Owensboro.

“Rise Up: Part of the Solution” will be hosted on Monday, April 3 in DSU 3024 at 5 p.m. “Part of the Solution” is an interactive discussion for college men, where they will be informed on forms of sexual assault, being a bystander and intervening and supporting those who have experienced sexual assault, Hope Harbor said. 

The session will include discussion, along with a question and answer session on topics prevalent to college men, but the session is open to all students. 

“First Things First: Your Story, Your Words,” a spoken word event, will be hosted in the Gordon Wilson Hall lab theatre at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 5. 

“1,000 Teal Ribbons and #MeToo” will be hosted in DSU Nite Class at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 13. “In Their Shoes” will be in DSU Nite Class from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18. 

Denim Day is Wednesday, April 26, in which individuals wear denim to combat victim blaming and to bring awareness to sexual assault. 

The months events end with the “Take Back the Night” finale, which will be hosted at the SOKY Marketplace from 5-8 p.m on Wednesday, April 26. “Take Back the Night” is a night of empowerment against sexual assault and will have a variety of vendors and performances.

Sexual assault prevention month is coordinated by the WKU Counseling Center, Hope Harbor, Inc., Barren River Area Safe Space, WKU Student Conduct, WKU Health Education and Promotion, WKU Student Activities as well as other WKU organizations. 

Events on campus are supported by the WKU College of Health and Human Services, WKU Gender and Women’s Studies, WKU Restaurant Group and ISEC.

News reporter Molly Dobberstein can be reached at [email protected].