With five reported incidents of sexual assault on Minnesota State's campus this semester, awareness and prevention of the problem is more relevant than ever.
According to MSU Sexual Violence Education Coordinator Lauren Pilnick, the increase of sexual assaults on campus doesn't necessarily mean the assaults are happening more frequently. It could be that more victims are coming forward and reporting the incident, she said. Pilnick hopes increased reporting of sexual violence means individuals know what resources are on campus to help them.
"It's everyone's responsibility to prevent sexual assault," Pilnick said.
Several issues surrounding sexual assault will be addressed through the events of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Last year a single event was held, but this year the month is packed with events, due in part to the recent sexual assaults on campus. The Women's Center hopes having more events will increase awareness of sexual violence issues. The upcoming Denim Day, for example, is meant to educate people about the harmful practice of victim blaming.
"It's just a misconception about rape [victims]," Pilnick said. "No matter what they're wearing, they are still victims."
On April 15, supporters are encouraged to wear jeans along with a pin asking others to inquire why. According to Pilnick, Denim Day is to protest an Italian Supreme Court case. The case overturned a rape conviction because the victim was wearing jeans when the incident occurred. The court ruled that the victim would have had to assist her attacker in undoing the jeans, thereby declaring the incident was consensual and not rape. Pilnick said that is a very public example of victim blaming.
Another key aspect of sexual violence prevention is getting the word out by encouraging the campus community to feel comfortable turning to one another or sharing stories. Take Back the Night, which begins at 5 p.m. April 15 on the MSU mall, is an opportunity for survivors of sexual violence and their supporters to speak about their experiences.
The last event the Women's Center planned is a play on April 21. According to Pilnick, the play "When" is an excellent way to start a dialogue about sexual and domestic violence. In the play, the questions of when to intervene and when to reach out to victims of sexual assault will be answered. This will be the first time "When" has been performed on campus.
Heather Moeller is a Reporter staff writer
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