Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Every year in April, UNC recognizes Sexual Assault Awareness Month with various events taking place on campus throughout the month. Sexual Assault Awareness Month, also referred to as SAAM, is meant to educate everyone on how to create a safer environment for the campus community. In our West Lounge grid, you will find information about all the large events that are occurring this month in relation to SAAM.
“Throughout SAAM, we hope to promote the support and resources on campus for survivors, as well as raise awareness to prevent sexual assault,” says Sexual Assault Awareness Month intern for the Carolina Women’s Center, Hannah Smoot.  The Carolina Women’s Center collaborates with several different organizations to bring awareness for sexual assault to a wide audience.
There are several events that are being held over the course of the month of April in order to take the next step towards prevention and engagement. Large-scale events are listed below. Please find the full event listing at http://saam.web.unc.edu/.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2015
April 1: UNC Gender-Based Violence Research Group Mini-Conference
Rosenau Hall and Michael Hooker Research Center, 12:00–3:00pm
This event seeks to highlight gender-based violence research and on the UNC campus and to promote collaboration between various disciplines at UNC.
April 2: AAU Sexual Assault Campus Climate Survey
April 6–10: Alliance Against Violence
The Pit
This week-long event is aimed to spread awareness of interpersonal violence and ask members of the community to take a stand against it. The program will consist of daily events including performances, speakers, film screenings, and handing out of resources. In addition, we will hand out 3,000 shirts throughout the week that will be worn on the last day, Friday, April 10, as a visible representation of the Carolina community’s alliance against interpersonal violence.
April 7: Screening of My Masculinity Helps
Chapman 125, 5:00–6:30pm
My Masculinity Helps serves as a counter-narrative to often inaccurate and misleading portrayals of African American masculinity. The screening of this film is paired with a discussion with filmmaker Marc Grimmett.
April 9: Walk a Mile in Her Shoes
Old Well, 6:00pm
Sigma Phi and Kappa Kappa Gamma invite you to join them for a one-mile march benefiting the Center. The march against gender violence will promote a community dialogue on the crucial role men can play as allies in preventing sexual assault.
April 10: Campus Connections: Bringing Together the Sexual Assault Response and Support Community at Carolina
Campus Y Anne Queen Lounge, 2:00–4:00pm
Gender Violence Services Coordinator. Title IX Compliance Coordinator. Student Complaint Coordinator. Dean of Students. All of these people are integral in supporting students who have experienced forms of interpersonal violence, but who are they?
April 10:  Project Dinah Benefit Concert for OCRCC
Local 506, 10:00pm
Join UNC’s Project Dinah for a benefit concert for the Orange County Rape Crisis Center. Local performers include Harmonyx a capella, UNC Chalkaa dance crew, Tala Goudarzi and Abby Hale acoustic duo, Moonlight Hip Hop dance crew, DJ Emma Rich, and DJ Kat Kucera. Tickets: $5. All proceeds benefit the Center!
April 13: Beyond Bullying: How Bystanders Can Prevent Identity-Based and Sexual Harassment
Union 3407, 5:00–7:00pm
One Act is hosting a two-hour follow up program to the One Act training called Beyond Bullying: How Bystanders Can Prevent Identity-Based and Sexual Harassment. This training draws on the bystander skills learned during One Act and expands the topics to harassment and discrimination, which is a sign and predictor of violence.
April 15: Coffee Conversation on Consent
Campus Y Anne Queen Lounge, 5:00–6:30pm
Campus Coffee Conversations is a monthly discussion series where students, faculty, and staff can talk about issues surround gender equity and violence prevention at UNC. This month will focus on consent.
April 16: Screening of The Hunting Ground
Carroll 111, 7:00pm
A searing portrait of sexual assault on today’s campuses, The Hunting Ground is a remarkable and important film, and we believe it can lead to real change at the institutional level if it builds momentum.
April 21: Shout Out! Against Sexual Violence
Chapel Hill Public Library (Room A), 6:00–8:00pm
Shout Out! Against Sexual Violence is a survivor-themed event that explores the survivor experience through stories and testimonials, poetry and spoken word, dance, music, and visual art. We welcome submissions from survivors of sexual violence, their loved ones, and allies.
April 22: Self-Care Workshop: Creation and Meditation
Union 3407, 1:00–3:00pm
April 27: How to Help a Loved One
Chapel Hill Public Library, 6:00–8:00pm
This seminar is for family, friends, and partners of those who have been sexually assaulted and abused, whether recently or years ago.