For the third year, the Heidelberg University community will bring awareness to the topic of sexual assault prevention during the annual It’s On Us Sex Week April 22-25. The week incorporates student and staff groups, most notably the Heidelberg University Center for Survivor Empowerment.
This year, Sex Week will feature traditional events, including Walk a Mile in Her Shoes as well as an open mic and art gallery. New to this year’s lineup will be Chalk the Walk, Rock the Campus, a couch talk and a male survivor of sexual assault. Another new event will be a competition for the team or group with the highest percentage of participation in the week’s events. The winner will receive the coveted Sex Week Trophy, identifying the team/group as the It’s On Us team/group of the year.
Those who participate in an event will receive a variety of Sex Week-themed stickers and will be entered into a drawing to win a $100 Amazon gift card.
Here is the schedule of events for the week for the campus community:
Monday, April 22
Chalk the Walk - Chalk will be available outside of Hoernemann for students to use on the sidewalks around campus. Messages incorporating positive language surrounding sexuality, supporting survivors, and related designs are all welcome. Chalk will be available throughout the week or until the chalk is gone.
Rock the Campus - College Democrats and Berg Events Council are co-sponsoring a painting of rocks event in the Commons from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Students will be able to paint a rock(s) with messages incorporating positive language surrounding sexuality, supporting survivors, and related designs. Students can then place these rocks throughout campus for others to see. Students are asked to keep the rocks off grassy areas out of respect for Krammes and their equipment. Any leftover painted rocks will be distributed following Tuesday’s speaker.
Tuesday, April 23
Talk with Tim Mousseau - Heidelberg Athletics and Heidelberg University Center for Survivor Empowerment are co-sponsoring this event in Seiberling Gymnasium at 11 a.m. Tim is a male survivor of sexual assault. He uses powerful stories grounded in personal experiences, revealing his passion and vulnerability to guide conversations that will leave students inspired to combat sexual violence, redefine masculinity and provoke change.
Screening of "Speak" - "After a blurred trauma over the summer, Melinda enters high school a selective mute. Struggling with school, friends and family, she tells the dark tale of her experiences, and why she has chosen not to speak.” (description from IMDB) Location and time to be determined.
Wednesday, April 24
Open Mic/Art Gallery - Dr. Lucia Palmer's Women and Gender Studies class will engage the campus in trivia starting at 5:30 p.m., followed by an open mic/art gallery at 6 p.m. Students are encouraged to share material related to sexual assault, supporting survivors and healthy bystander intervention in the form of poetry, song, art, skit or other related medium. Additionally, Ashlee Beaver will present a Text Perceptions/Communication interactive discussion. This portion of the event will engage students in discussing how text messages can be perceived in different ways.
Thursday, April 25
Couch Talk - A place where men can ask women questions they do not feel comfortable asking. The panel of participants will include both female and male Heidelberg students.
Walk A Mile In Her Shoes - Athletes Against All Violence (AAAV) will be the beneficiaries of this year’s event. Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® events are political and performance art with public, personal and existential messages. At Walk a Mile in Her Shoes®, there is no distinction between performer and audience. This is an education and awareness opportunity about the causes of men’s sexualized violence against women. It is designed to provide prevention and remediation strategies and empower men to further develop and implement these skills. The event takes place at 7 p.m. at Hoernemann Stadium.
This year, Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® will include Walk A Mile Ambassadors (WAM Ambassadors), a group of Heidelberg students who will assist participants in perpetuating the conversation around gender-based violence through the mile walk. With participants being engaged in bystander role play situations after each lap, WAM Ambassadors will encourage them to fully engage in the event by asking questions, discussing their responses to the role play scenarios and challenging their perceptions of their role in gender-based violence. As always, participants will be required to wear high-heeled shoes.