The Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center (SAPAC) will mark the 10th annual Sexual Assault Awareness Week with a series of events Monday–Friday (Oct. 24–28). The activities are designed to raise community awareness and understanding of the many issues surrounding sexual violence. All activities are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.
SAPAC Director Debra Cain encourages all members of the University and Ann Arbor communities to attend, noting that “raising community awareness is essential to rape prevention.”
Patricia Hill Collins, the 1994–95 Presidential Professor of Women’s Studies and Afro-American and African Studies at the University of Cincinnati, will speak on “The Tie That Binds: Rethinking Racism, Sexism and Violence” at 4 p.m. Tuesday (Oct. 25) in the Michigan League Ballroom. Her presentation is co-sponsored with SAPAC by the Center for the Education of Women, Center for Afroamerican and African Studies, Women’s Studies Program, Department of Sociology, and the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic and Multicultural Initiatives.
The annual “Speak Out” will be held 7–10 p.m. Wednesday (Oct. 26) in the Michigan Union Ballroom. This is an “open mike” for survivors of sexual assault, “offering a safe haven for survivors to disclose and an opportunity for the community to be supportive,” explains SAPAC counselor Elaine Barrington. “In the past, this breaking of the silence that surrounds sexual assault has been very powerful and moving for all who attend.”
Barrington also will coordinate a brown-bag lunch, “Friends Helping Friends,” at noon Friday (Oct. 28) in Room 234, West Engineering Building (Women’s Studies Lounge), providing a forum to discuss the healing process of survivors of sexual violence and issues of concern for their friends and family.
Lisa McLaughlin, visiting assistant professor in the Department of Communication, will discuss “Bodily Extremes: The Missing Middle in Popular Culture’s Representation of Women” noon–1 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 27) in the Women’s Studies Lounge, East Engineering Building.
Defending Our Lives Other activities include self-defense workshops for women only in which the participants are taught basic moves and tactics to protect themselves in threatening situations. Preregistration is required and a $5 donation is requested. Those currently scheduled can handle up to a total of 50 people. Other sessions will be arranged as needed. Call SAPAC, 763-5865, for times and locations.
In addition to events sponsored by SAPAC, the Campus Safety Task Force of the Michigan Student Assembly has organized a “campus walk” on Wednesday (Oct. 26) for student leaders, Uni-versity administrators and city officials. The group will gather at 11:30 p.m. to take a walking tour of areas on and adjacent to campus. The purpose of the walk is to increase awareness among campus and community leaders about what the University environment is like at night, said student Christian Chock, co-coordinator of the task force and organizer of the event along with student Jeff Brown.
