Take Back the Night will occur on April 18.Miami’s office of student wellness will partner with other campus departments and student organizations to host Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) events during April. In addition to traditional events like Take Back the Night and Denim Day, this year’s events will include a few brand new events and a new spin on some returning events.

One of the biggest changes this year will be to the Clothesline Project. The Clothesline Project has been an annual event during which t-shirts are created by individuals who have experienced sexual assault or domestic violence. The shirts contained messages about their experience and calls for change. The shirts were then hung on a clothesline on academic quad to raise awareness about sexual and interpersonal violence (SIV).

Last year, staff received feedback from students who have been affected by sexual assault. They said the Clothesline Project was more triggering for them than honoring their experiences.

With this feedback, two graduate assistants in the Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CSDI), Jamie Kuhlmeier and Lucy Trevino Alanis, reimagined programming that would be less triggering for survivors. They partnered with Assistant Director for SIV Prevention and Outreach, Healthy Equity, and Access Morgan-Allison Moore on the project. Their goal has been to develop student-focused programming during SAAM.

“I think it is important to remember that with programming like this, we are trying to honor a group’s lived experience,” Kuhlmeier said. “We need to be responsive to their needs when designing and implementing programming, not just continuing a tradition. We will continue to reimagine programming for students so they felt heard, honored, and respected by their university.”

This year’s Clothesline Project will be held virtually through a YouTube link on the CSDI website starting April 1, 2022. The video will allow interested people to participate, while avoiding a situation in which someone happens across potentially triggering content.

Events for SAAM include but are not limited to the following:

• Listen, Learn, Love. An SIV forum on March 30 from 7-8:30 p.m. in Wilks Theater, hosted by the associated student government and sexual assault survivor support. A presentation and panel will feature representatives from Women Helping Women, student counseling service, office of the dean of students, and more.

• The Clothesline Project. Will be available virtually through a YouTube link on the CSDI website, starting April 1 through April 30, 2022.

• Women Helping Women fundraiser; April 5 from 4-8 p.m. Support Women Helping Women by presenting their flyer or promo code at the Oxford Chipotle. You can also use the code (DD6TQQE) when ordering online. One third of event sales are donated to Women Helping Women.

• Hear My Voice workshop; April 7, 6-8 p.m., in-person. Discuss and practice setting physical and emotional boundaries, granting and withholding consent, navigating uncomfortable conversations, recognizing warning signs of dangerous relationships, and more. Pre-registration is encouraged. Presented by Women Helping Women, Miami University police department, and the office of student wellness.

• Coping with Trauma Triggers workshop; April 12, 4-4:30 p.m., virtual. Sometimes, a seemingly ordinary event can trigger a strong, anxious reaction, reminding us of a past traumatic event. This workshop, through the student counseling service, will address coping skills to manage anxiety from these triggers and provide referral information for trauma treatment.

• Lowkey Feelin’ Myself; April 15, 6:30-7:30 p.m. in Armstrong C-Suite. Join Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority Inc., Black women empowered, love you like a sister, and the office of student wellness for a conversation about boundaries, safe spaces, and sexuality in women. 

• Take Back the Night; April 18, 7 p.m. (previously listed as starting at 8 p.m.) starting at the Joslin Terrace outside the Armstrong Student Center. Join feminists working on real democracy for a march calling on Miami students to support survivors of sexual and interpersonal violence. 

• Movie Screening: Promising Young Woman; April 20, 6:30-9:30 p.m. in the Wilks Theater of Armstrong. There will be a counselor and advocate in attendance to assist any person who may be overwhelmed by themes in this movie. This movie contains themes around sexual assault, suicide, and homicide. The film is being screened for educational purposes and is in no way encouraging vengeance against perpetrators of assault.

• Let's Talk: Disability and Sexuality; April 21, 3-4 p.m., virtual. Participants will be introduced to statistical information, common myths, misconceptions and accessible sexuality advocacy resources. The talk will be hosted by the Miller Center for Student Disability Services in partnership with the office of student wellness.

• Denim Day. Wear jeans all day with a purpose on April 27; meet in the academic quad from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. to decorate free denim hats and keychains.

• Good Vibes: Ask a Sex Educator; April 29, 3 p.m. in 322 McGuffey. Join the office of student wellness, the Sexuality Education Studies Center, and the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion for an interactive conversation with sex educators. This event will allow students to ask questions about sex and sexuality anonymously.