09/04/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/04/2024 08:08
The first six weeks of the academic year are a busy time for schoolwork, joining clubs and making new friends. It's also a crucial time to combat violence on campus - more than 50% of sexual assaults among college students happen in the fall semester, before Thanksgiving break.
This September, Prevention at Pitt will lead programming for the University's first annual Campus Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time for the Pitt community to come together to support survivors, increase knowledge and identify strategies to eliminate sexual violence from our campus.
[Show support by wearing a T-shirt on Wednesdays during September.]
Find resources, discuss agency and healthy relationships and show your support for survivors at events throughout the month. All events take place in the Prevention at Pitt office on the 31st floor of the Cathedral of Learning, except as noted.
Enjoy a fry bar with all the fixings as you learn how consent is like FRIES - freely given, reversible, informed, enthusiastic and specific. Registration is recommended but not required to join this discussion on boundaries and healthy relationships.
Meet support services and clubs from around Pittsburgh and the University at the Campus Sexual Assault Awareness Month resource fair. Pick up self-care materials as you explore the support and education available to Pitt community members who have been impacted by sexual misconduct.
Where: William Pitt Union Plaza (Rain location: WPU Lower Lounge)
This is the first in a series of Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR) wellness workshops that will explore the effects of trauma, language for discussing complex emotions, soothing skills and coping strategies. In an entry level exploration of the neurobiology of trauma, attendees will learn about each part of the brain and its function through interactive exercises. No registration is required.
Self-defense takes many forms, from learning to pick up clues in your environment to setting healthy boundaries and practicing effective physical resistance skills. Practice common sense and practical ways to keep yourself and others safe in this high-energy, trauma-informed and gender-inclusive SETPoint session. You'll leave feeling strong, energized and empowered. Registration is encouraged as space is limited.
Show your support for survivors of sexual violence at the fourth annual Pittsburgh Universities Believe Survivors March, sponsored by Pitt, Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University, Carlow University, Chatham University and Point Park University. After a survivor speak out at Carnegie Mellon's Tepper Quad, the group will march together through Oakland. The event will end with a self-care fair at the William Pitt Union patio, where speakers will talk about the power of healing.
In this virtual training, participants will learn and practice skills to help them engage with the Pitt community in a way that recognizes and acknowledges the impact trauma can have on a person's well-being. Register to receive the Zoom link.
Join Prevention at Pitt for a relaxing pizza and game night with Pittsburgh Action Against Rape. Learn more about the services PAAR provides and connect with a confidential advocate. Registration is open but not required to stop by.
This workshop will guide you through an journey of the Circles of Sexuality: sensuality, intimacy, sexual identity, sexual and reproductive health, and sexualization. Registration is available but not required, so come discover more about yourself while connecting with others.
Make jewelry, cards, buttons and more at this consent-themed craft night. There will also be sweets and popcorn. You can register now or come as you are.
Trauma-informed yoga instructor Becky Bruce will lead a hands-free, gentle yoga class for survivors of sexual violence and supporters. Everybody - from experienced yogis to beginners - is welcome. Mats will be provided, but feel free to bring your own. Registration is open, but not required to attend.
Where: William Pitt Union, fifth floor dance studio
Have you ever felt sad but realized you were actually angry? Or couldn't put your finger on the feeling at all? This second PAAR workshop will focus on identifying and managing different emotions, exploring how they show up in our bodies and minds. No registration is required.
Hear written works from people around Pitt about relationships that have impacted them in ways that are good, bad and in-between. First-time performers to seasoned veterans are welcome to take the stage to express their journey through art for up to 6 minutes. Performance slots are limited, so registration is recommended.
Where: C4C Understory CL Basement
Photography courtesy of Prevention at Pitt