Baylor University Joins National Campaign on Awareness, Prevention Efforts During National Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Media Contact: Lori Fogleman, 254-710-6275
Follow Lori on Twitter at @LoriBaylorU
Follow Baylor Media Communications on Twitter: @BaylorUMedia
WACO, Texas (April 4, 2016) – Baylor University has joined universities and communities around the country in April in a national effort to increase public awareness and prevention education about interpersonal violence during Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM).
This year’s national theme is “Prevention is possible.” During April, Baylor will provide several opportunities for students, faculty and staff to join the University’s commitment to the prevention of acts of interpersonal violence and to treat all members of the campus community with dignity and respect.
Community Prayer – April 5, 2016
The month’s activities will begin on the National Day of Action with a time for Community Prayer for the campus. Between 11 a.m. and noon Tuesday, April 5, the campus community will pause for a moment of prayer or reflection. (The prayer guide was developed for parents by Angela Reed, Ph.D., assistant professor of practical theology and director of spiritual formation at Baylor’s Truett Seminary, and modified for the campus community by University Chaplain Burt Burleson and Associate Chaplain Ryan Richardson.)
The focus is on all students, faculty and staff establishing and preserving relationships that reflect the Christ-like compassion that fosters mutual respect and ignites a commitment to care for and protect one another at all times and in all circumstances. Baylor Parents Network chapters that hold First Call to Prayer events each month also will participate in the Community Prayer as a part of their meetings.
It’s On Us Pledge Drive – April 5-8, 2016
Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to take the It’s On Us pledge in person from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 5-8 in the SUB Den in the Bill Daniel Student Center. The Baylor community also can take the pledge online at www.baylor.edu/ItsOnUs. A national initiative launched in September 2014, the It’s On Us pledge is a “personal commitment to help keep women and men safe from sexual assault. It is a promise to be a part of the solution and intervene when you can help.”
It’s On Us BU Awareness Video
The It’s On Us BU awareness video also will be played during several Baylor athletic events in support of Sexual Assault Awareness Month:
- April 5 - Baylor Baseball vs. Wofford
- April 15 - Baylor Baseball vs. Oklahoma State
- April 20 - Baylor Softball vs. Texas State
- April 22 - Baylor Softball vs. Kansas
Nochedeloso – April 11, 2016
Student leaders from across campus have been a part of conversations about ways the University can enhance activities on campus and contribute to a stronger sense of community. One of the resulting ideas is Nochedeloso, a night of free activities before Diadeloso.
On Monday, April 11, students are invited to be a part of Nochedeloso and enjoy a tailgate environment with a crawfish boil (free to the first 500 students) beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Fountain Mall, followed by a concert on the Dia stage. (Performers will be announced in Tuesday’s Baylor Lariat.)
The final event of the night is a free showing of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” at 9 p.m. on the big screen at McLane Stadium. Students, faculty and staff are invited to bring their friends and a lawn chair or blanket and find their place on the field to watch the blockbuster hit.
Other events will be announced as the month progresses. For updates, follow @Baylor on Twitter and search the hashtags #SAAM and #ItsOnUsBU.
Student volunteers play a pivotal role in shaping programs and awareness events hosted by the University. To volunteer to be a part of the It’s On Us BU Student Advisory Board or for more information about Baylor’s Title IX office, contact the staff at 254-710-8454 or go online at www.baylor.edu/TitleIX.
About the SAAM Campaign
The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) coordinates the national SAAM campaign each year. NSVRC leads the U.S. in promoting comprehensive prevention of sexual violence through research, resources and collaboration. NSVRC provides access to information and tools that make communities safer and leads partnerships to develop effective policies and programs that can affect meaningful and lasting change.
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 16,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.