Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

Each April, the Seattle University community comes together to recognize Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) (SU Credentials required) by hosting educational events and promoting sexual violence prevention. Violence such as sexual assault thrives in silence. So, when we raise awareness, talk about resources, and intervene in order to stop violence from happening in the first place, less people are harmed. No one has to do everything but we all must do our part to make our community safer for everyone.

This year’s theme for SAAM is “Together we act, United we change” which highlights the importance of working together to address and prevent sexual abuse, assault, and harassment. This campaign focuses on enhancing public understanding of sexual violence, amplifying the voices of survivors, and empowering us to work together to promote the safety and well-being of others. Everyone in our communities deserves to live in safe and supportive environments where they are treated with respect. When our workplaces, schools, and communities work together to uphold safety and respect, we make progress in preventing sexual abuse, assault, and harassment.

We invite you to join us in working to deepen our awareness of sexual violence and actively engage in prevention efforts here at Seattle University. Show your support for survivors by participating in the Teal Ribbon Campaign, attending upcoming events and workshops to deepen your understanding of the impacts and prevalence of sexual violence, viewing the Healing Through Arts Showcase, and actively working toward moving from awareness to action this April!

Sincere thanks to the offices who helped plan and coordinate our community education efforts including Counseling, Health, and Wellness (Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Health Center, and Wellness and Health Promotion), Office of Institutional Equity, Office of the Dean of Students, University Recreation, the Lemieux Library and the McGoldrick Learning Commons, the Billodue Makerspace, the Department of Criminal Justice, Criminology and Forensics, Campus Ministry, Center for Student Involvement, the Sundborg Center for Community Engagement, the Department of Visual Arts, the MOSAIC Center, Housing and Residence Life, and the International Student and Scholar Center.

If you are interested in learning more about these events or getting more involved in Healthy Relationship programming, please email wellness@seattleu.edu. For more information about resources and reporting options for those impacted by sexual misconduct, please visit https://www.seattleu.edu/get-help or https://www.seattleu.edu/office-of-institutional-equity/.

Sincerely,

Eduardo M. Peñalver, President

Natasha Martin, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion

Elizabeth Trayner, Ed.D, Assistant Vice President for Institutional Equity and Title IX Coordinator

Mikaela Wallin, Associate Director for Wellness and Health Promotion