FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                        April 2, 2008

APRIL DESIGNATED AS MONTH TO RAISE SEXUAL ASSAULT / VICTIMS AWARENESS

            April has been designated National Sexual Assault Awareness and National Victim Awareness Month by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. Northwestern Oklahoma State University is among organizations that will join that observance.

            Sandra Harmon, coordinator of the university’s Violence Prevention Program, said several specific projects have been developed.

            Throughout the month, teal (the official sexual violence awareness color) ribbons will be displayed on bulletin boards on all three campuses with a card of explanation attached to them. The ribbons symbolize recognition of victims and survivors and promote awareness that sexual violence is a problem.

            “Sexual assault is the most under-reported crime,” Harmon said. “The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation estimates that only 50 percent of such crimes in the state are reported.”       

            A main focus of the month will be a data-gathering survey of students and employees to gain a perspective of any safety issues and concerns, attitudes/beliefs toward sexual violence and other statistics.

            “This survey is an attempt to get at people’s understanding of the issues,” Harmon said.

            She has arranged self-defense classes for employees, male and female, on April 10. They will be taught by Kelly Schrock and Chase Bouziden from the Department of Corrections.

            Harmon pointed out that over time, sexual assault awareness activities have expanded to include the issue of sexual violence against men and men’s participation in ending sexual violence.

            April 10 also will be Denim Day when faculty and staff are encouraged to wear denim and a sticker explaining the significance of denim. The concept grew out of an international protest after the Italian Supreme Court dismissed charges against a rape suspect because his victim was wearing jeans and “It is common knowledge…that jeans cannot even be partly removed without the effective help of the person wearing them…”

            The unpopular verdict became an international symbol of myth-based injustice.

            Any employees wanting to take the self-defense class or pick up a sticker and wear denim should contact Harmon in Fine Arts 105 or at (580) 327-8119.

-NW-

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