Every 68 seconds, an American over the age of 12 is sexually assaulted. Each April, The University of New Mexico’s LoboRESPECT Advocacy Center joins organizations around the country in prevention efforts and educational campaigns in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
This year, the LoboRESPECT Advocacy Centerwill host four unique events aimed at generating awareness, creating conversations around consent, providing spaces for survivors and engaging students through entertainment. The theme for this year’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month, led by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, is Building Conencted Communities and ensuring communities are safe from the forms of oppression that contribute to higher rates of sexual violence.
“There are so many people in the UNM Community who may have experienced sexual assault in their lives whether they are students, alumni, faculty or staff and its critical to show UNM and the broader community that UNM recognizes those people and is working diligently to be a campus that doesn't tolerate gender-based violence,” Julia Egger, campus advocate with LoboRESPECT, said. “It's important to support and empower those who have experienced sexual violence while also teaching our students how to address issues like rape culture, victim blaming, and misogyny to create both a campus and world that is free from sexual violence.”
Students and staff at LoboRESPECT went above and beyond this year to collaborate and find ways to make events even more engaging than prior years. This year’s events will feature an art installation in the center of campus.
“We’re really trying to pull together some creative ways to raise awareness this year,” Lisa Lindquist, director of LoboRESPECT, said. “Creating space for the campus community to have increased engagement with us about these issues has been the theme of this year’s events and we hope folks will take advantage of that, participate when they can and learn some things.”
Events include:
Day of Action Consent Fair- Tuesday, April 2 (11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.)
SUB Atrium
Wear teal to support survivors of sexual violence and visit the SUB Atrium for games, prizes and more. Drop by the event to sign the consent banner, learn about the resource centers that serve students on campus and walk away with consent-themed swag. Post a photo wearing teal for the Day of Action and tag @unmloborespect.
Sole Survivor- Tuesday, April 9 (11 a.m. 2 p.m.)
Smith Plaza
Visit Smith Plaza to see a visualisation of more than 460 pairs of shoes representing the 463,000 people who experience sexual assault and rape each year. Donate shoes through April 5th to help create the installation. Shoes will be donated after the event.
Jewelry Jam- Tuesday, April 16 (2 to 3 p.m.)
ASUNM Arts and Crafts Studio
Survivors of sexual violence are invited to join LoboRESPECT for an afternoon of making jewelry. RSVP is required as space is limited. There will be no formal program, just come to make great conversation and fun jewelry!
Sex Signals Program- Tuesday, April 30 (7 p.m.)
SUB Theater
Visit the SUB Theater for a program from Sex Signals, an organization aimed at making conversations about consent and sex fun and entertaining.
Learn more about services offered by the LoboRESPECT Advocacy Center on the department’s website.
Read more about the LoboRESPECT Advocacy Center:
LoboRESPECT: First stop for students seeking support
'The Grey Area' training aims to make consent clear for students
Lobo Food Pantry seeks physical donations