April is recognized as sexual assault awareness month, and to raise awareness UTM is hosting several events to highlight the importance of what this month stands for.
Alumni Jeniffer Green will be sharing her personal assault story for the Survival and Policy Panel on Saturday, April 17, at 4 p.m.
UTM Senior Kayla Brooks is hosting an “Empowerment Yoga With Kayla” class via zoom on Tuesday, April 20, at 6 p.m. Kayla discussed what the yoga class is all about and why she felt like it was important for Sexual Assault Awareness month.
“Empowerment Yoga is a yoga practice where we focus on the power we hold in our minds and bodies. We control our bodies, and we can make choices to improve our minds. It’s important to take time to calm the mind and move the body, and that’s what yoga does. Sexual assault is too closely tied to college campuses and to all women. We all know someone it has happened to. In order to help raise awareness, I wanted to offer a service I can provide – yoga. Giving people space to feel in control and powerful is the least I can do in this important month. Yoga can help us feel powerful, strong and safe – all things that are crucial to recovery,” she said.
Wednesday, April 28 is National Denim Day. According to denimdayinfo.org, “The campaign began after a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court where a rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans she must have helped the person who raped her remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim. Peace Over Violence developed the Denim Day campaign in response to this case and the activism surrounding it.” Students are encouraged to wear denim as apart of a global movement to support sexual assault survivors.
