SERC promotes dialogue for Sexual Assault Awareness Month at ISU

Image courtesy of Students Ending Rape Culture 

NORMAL, Ill. – April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Students Ending Rape Culture is encouraging conversations across campus.

SERC held a tabling event on Wednesday for a “Day of No Silence” to create a space for conversations surrounding sexual assault, particularly for survivors in the LGBTQ+ community.

“Sexual Assault Awareness Month is all about raising awareness about sexual assault, but also uplifting survivors’ voices, as well as their allies and secondary survivors,” SERC President Lauren Bounds said.

The day was originally called the “Day of Silence” but has since been changed to “No Silence” in some communities to encourage open discussion about the issue.

“Today is all about thinking about and uplifting the queer community and the LGBTQIA+ community and making sure that their voices are heard, especially in spaces around sexual assault,” Bounds said. “And to actively fight against hate and sexual assault against those groups.”

Other events include Consent Day on Wednesday, April 15, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the Clothesline Project showcase on Wednesday, April 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Consent Day provides a space for conversations about consent and how it fits into day-to-day life, while the Clothesline Project features outfits provided by survivors of sexual assault.

“It’s a very hard exhibit to walk through, but also very touching and very impactful,” Bounds said.

For more information, visit @serc_isu on Instagram.