Sexual Assault Awareness Month underway at KU

LAWRENCE — The Sexual Assault Prevention & Education Center (SAPEC) at the University of Kansas broadens its reach every April as it hosts programs for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), a national campaign that raises awareness and offers education about sexual assault.

“At KU, SAPEC holds a range of SAAM events and programs in April in collaboration with students, other university offices and community organizations,” said Jaclyn Carpenter, SAPEC program coordinator. “Through these events, we can better educate ourselves on how sexual violence exists in our society and the roles we can take in changing our culture.”

The month began with sexual assault awareness flags that were on display on the lawn of Watson Library until Friday, April 8. The display represented the number of KU students impacted by sexual assault.

For those who prefer an open dialogue, SAPEC hosts W(h)ine About It from 3-5 p.m. Thursday, April 14, in the Big 12 Room in the Kansas Union. This event offers a side of mocktails and cheese as it allows attendees to reflect on past relationship patterns and learn how to grow moving forward.

Highlighting the following week is the sex positivity art show, which runs April 18-29 in the Union Gallery. This KU student art show, which is available to view during Kansas Union hours, is curated by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and features pieces that ponder sexual pleasure and sex positivity outside of the white gaze. The show also features a sex positivity reception from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, April 21, when attendees are invited to meet and celebrate the artists showcased.

SAAM will conclude April 28 with an off-campus event, Take Back the Night, at the South Park gazebo on Massachusetts Street in downtown Lawrence. The start time will be announced at a later date.

Follow along all month for updates on SAAM events on Twitter and Instagram.

Programing is also available year-round at SAPEC, which coordinates sexual assault prevention and education programming for student organizations, university staff and faculty, as well as students in KU classes. SAPEC also has resources to help anyone who experiences any form of sexual violence or harassment while a student at KU, or if they need support around an experience that happened before coming to KU.