Quick Summary
- Provided ideas, tools for campus programs
- Many workshops led by students
- Among activities for National Sexual Assault Awareness Month
University of California students and staff are using what they learned at a recent conference to improve peer education for the prevention of sexual violence.
Nearly 200 attended the Symposium on Peer Education in Prevention of Sexual Violence at the Davis campus April 3, one of the university’s activities highlighting National Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
‘Let’s Talk About Sex’
ٺƵ student organizations, the CARE advocacy office and others are talking about sex, including consent, during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Here are some highlights:
- Tabling on the Quad — Reminding students of the importance of consent and how to be an “upstander,” noon-1 p.m. daily through Friday, April 16.
- Take Back the Night — Program and march, Thursday, April 21. Program starts at 7 p.m., multipurpose room, .
- Denim Day — noon-4 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, , South Patio
- Kat Blaque — 7 p.m. Friday, April 29, 123
Read more about ٺƵ’ Sexual Violence Awareness and Education Campaign.
“Students and staff were able to share ideas and gain the tools to go back to their campuses and advocate for improvements,” said Sam Alavi, a student leader from ٺƵ who helped organize the event.
Alavi, who is director of Advocacy and Student Representation for the Associated Students of ٺƵ and undergraduate vice chair of the , said delegations from each campus will continue to meet as groups to improve programs on their campus.
A collaborative effort
The event was a collaboration of the UC Student Association, Alavi’s ASUCD office, the , and campus offices for sexual assault resources and education.
The event was sponsored by ٺƵ Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi, the UC Office of the President and the UC Student Association.
Alavi said the symposium successfully highlighted how the approach to peer education and sexual violence prevention needs to be informed by social justice, cultural competency, and how various forms of discrimination can interact and overlap.
Students led workshops
Workshops, many student-led, offered how-to’s for improving presentations and topics such as:
- Rights and reporting for graduate students who have experienced sexual harassment
- Traits of healthy relationships
- Helping a friend who has survived a sexual assault
La Shonda Coleman, director of college programs for the , was the keynote speaker.
Media Resources
Sam Alavi, ASUCD, 650-229-4421, sjalavi@ucdavis.edu
Julia Ann Easley, ٺƵ News and Media Relations, 530-752-8248, jaeasley@ucdavis.edu