WKU News

One in five women and one in 16 men are sexually assaulted while in college, and WKU Counseling and Testing and Hope Harbor, Inc., are leading efforts to raise awareness for prevention resources in the Bowling Green/Warren County area during Sexual Assault Prevention Month. In addition to the services offered throughout the week by both offices, other campus and community groups have joined efforts to coordinated 10 events to raise awareness, share prevention information, and encourage support for sexual assault victims.

Sexual Assault Prevention Month activities begin Monday (March 27) at WKU with the Kick-Off event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Downing Student Union first floor. President Gary A. Ransdell and Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear will sign a proclamation at 1 p.m.

On Wednesday (March 29), from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., the Clothesline Display will take place during Healthy Days at the Preston Health and Activities Center.

April events include a Facebook Live Q&A at 5 p.m. April 3; Walk a Mile in Her Shoes at 4 p.m. April 4; Vagina Monologues at 7 p.m. April 10; and Take Back the Night at 6 p.m. April 20 followed by the FFOYA House Fundraiser.

The annual Take Back the Night is one of the largest events during SAPM. Hundreds of community members gather to walk in support of victim survivors and sexual assault prevention. Free T-shirts are available to participants who register by noon April 5. Supporters can walk individually or with a group, family, organization, church or residence hall.

Information on registration for Walk a Mile and reserving a T-shirt for Take Back the Night can be found on the Sexual Assault Prevention Month website at www.wku.edu/heretohelp/sapm.

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, not only is one in five women sexually assaulted in college, but 90 percent of sexual assault victims on college campuses do not report the assault. This year’s focus changes from awareness to prevention to give greater attention preventing sexual assault and supporting victims.

Campus and community offices and organizations involved in the planning, marketing and implementation include WKU Counseling and Testing Center, Hope Harbor, WKU Health Education and Promotion, WKU Student Wellness, WKU Gender and Women's Studies, FFOYA House, Barren River Area Safe Space (BRASS, Inc.), WKU Housing & Residence Life, WKU Office of Student Conduct, WKU Student Activities and Organizations, WKU Public Affairs and WKU Student Government Association with support from the Bowling Green Medical Center, Meijer, TruGreen, WKU Summer Sessions and the WKU Sociology Department. 

For a full list of Sexual Assault Prevention Month events, visit www.wku.edu/heretohelp/sapm. There you will also find information on sexual assault prevention and reporting an assault.

For information on Sexual Assault Prevention Month, contact Elizabeth Madariaga, WKU Counseling and Testing Center’s Sexual Assault Services Coordinator, at elizabeth.madariaga@wku.edu or Megan Talcott, Hope Harbor, Inc.’s Director of Prevention Education, at educator2@hopeharbor.net. You may also call Hope Harbor at (270) 782-5014 for more information.