UB launches month-long series of events to curb sexual violence

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo has organized a series of events in April to raise awareness about sexual violence.

The effort, which coincides with Sexual Assault Awareness Month, aims to educate the UB community and Western New York on how to prevent sexual violence and provide support to those who have experienced it.

“The University at Buffalo takes sexual violence very seriously. Our students, faculty and staff are continuously working to make our campuses and the Buffalo Niagara region safer through outreach, education and volunteer work,” said Sharon Nolan-Weiss, director of UB’s Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Title IX coordinator.

The events include everything from a workshop on how to help sexual assault survivors to a rock ‘n’ roll benefit show. While geared to the UB community, they are open to the public.

More information, including a full schedule of events and RSVP details for events requiring notice, is available here.

Highlights include:

• Bystander Intervention Training – These events are designed to empower people to help prevent sexual violence. Topics covered include, but are not limited to, identifying problem behaviors, and deciding when and how to intervene.
• Rock-A-Mile in Her Shoes benefit show – This event, which takes place April 11 at Buffalo’s Mohawk Place, features live music from a handful of local bands. Proceeds go to Crisis Services, a Buffalo-based nonprofit dedicated to health, safety and well-being throughout Erie County.
• Walk a Mile in Her Shoes – This is a community march against gender violence on April 26 in the city of Buffalo. More information here: http://crisisservices.org/content/.

The events are being organized by the Student Survivor Advocacy Alliance (commonly known as The Alliance), the UB Men’s Group, UB’s office of Wellness Education Services, SBI Health Education and Crisis Services’ Advocate Program.

“Sexual violence is a major public health, human rights and social justice issue,” said Anna Sotelo-Peryea, a violence prevention coordinator for Wellness Education Services. “These events are designed to appeal to as many people as possible to prevent sexual violence on campus and throughout the community.”

In addition to the events, UB is launching an awareness campaign to encourage discussion about sexual violence. People can use the hashtag #USE – it stands for Unwanted Sexual Experiences – to speak up about sexual harassment, stalking, dating violence, rape and other types of sexual violence.

The efforts come four months after the State University of New York adopted a uniform sexual assault prevention and response policy for its campuses. The policy is among the most comprehensive in the nation.

While most of the actions and recommendations in the new SUNY policy are already in place at UB, staff members are working to ensure that UB’s policies, procedures, education and training initiatives are consistent with the new policy.