ROSEBURG, Oregon – April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. To show support for the cause and provide resources to raise awareness, the Associated Students of Umpqua Community College (ASUCC) leadership group is organizing several events for students and employees.

A month-long schedule of activities kicked off on Wednesday, April 3. Campus community members expressed their emotions and support for those affected by violence by decorating a shirt in the UCC Cafeteria for the Clothesline Project. The shirt event will take place again on Thursday, April 4, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Cafeteria. The decorated shirts will be hung on a clothesline outside the LaVerne Murphy Student Center during the week of April 8-12 to be viewed by others as a testimony to the problem of violence against victim of assault.

The S.A.A.M Resource Fair will be held Wednesday, April 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Cafeteria, and will feature community partners who work closely with sexual assault victims and survivors. The resource fair will help connect attendees with resources and support services that are available at UCC and in the Douglas County area.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, April 16 and 17, red lipstick will be available in the Student Center Lobby (while supplies last) for Red Your Lips Day. Campus community members have the option to wear red lipstick to demonstrate solidarity and support for survivors in order to raise visibility and awareness about the realities and prevalence of sexual violence, while combating rape myths and victim-blaming.

Then on Wednesday, April 24, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Student Center, UCC campus community members can make a social statement with a fashion statement and wear jeans to visibly protest the myths that surround sexual assault. You can raise awareness by wearing denim or decorating jean pockets with non-victim blaming messages.

All month at UCC, campus community members are invited and encouraged Chalk the Walk. This consists of writing messages with chalk on the campus walkways in order to strike awareness and hope in support of survivors.

Story by Madelyn Foster, UCC Student

About Umpqua Community College

Nestled in the beautiful North Umpqua River Valley, Umpqua Community College is the regional center for higher education in Douglas County, Oregon. UCC provides high quality college degree programs, workforce development, and community learning opportunities.