As students approach the final weeks of school, the Students Against Sexual Assualt (SASA) organized a Spring Week of Action from April 11 to April 14, which includes a wide range of student-led events from SASA and features a collaboration with It’s On Us, an organization that helps bring awareness to sexual assault on college campuses across the U.S.
The week of action kicks off with “take back the night”. The event – originally to be held outside of Franz Hall on Monday, April 11 – was postponed until later this week due to the snowstorm that hit Portland early this week.
The event intends to provide a space for sexual assault survivors to share their stories. Students can also go to support or listen to those sharing their stories. Confidential resources for students from the HCC will be available. While usually done annually, this will be the first time since before the start of the pandemic that SASA will be hosting this event.
On Tuesday, April 12, there will be a yoga and meditation event from 7-8 p.m. in Dundon-Berchtold Hall room 136 for students to unwind before gearing up for finals. It’s a time for students to relax and make time to heal both physically and mentally, SASA Co-President Kristen Kaliban said.
“It's a chance to show people the variety of roles SASA can be for people,” Kaliban said. “People are under such high stress and events like this can be a way to recenter ourselves and be connected with students across campus.”
The Native American Alliance Club (NAA) will also be collaborating with SASA for their week of action on Wednesday, April 13. Both clubs will have displays in front of Franz Hall to honor and raise awareness of murdered indigenous women and children.
Thursday, April 14, SASA will be outside the library from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with handouts, giveaways, free drink test strips and more. They will also be having applications for students to pick up to join SASA’s leadership board.
“It's really important to have events like this especially because it is sexual assault awareness month,” ASA Secretary Brooke Welter said. “A lot of people may not really know about it or know what they can do for it.”
For more information about SASA's spring week of action can be found here.
Kimberly Cortez is a reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at cortez25@up.edu.
