Women’s Center hosts events for Sexual Assault Awareness Month

The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) Violence Prevention and Response Project is hosting UMKC’s sixth annual Take Back the Night March and Rally on Tuesday, April 20. After a 6:30 p.m. pre-march rally at the UMKC Quad area (near 5120 Rockhill Rd.), students and community members will march to the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain on the Country Club Plaza at 7:30 p.m. At 8 p.m., sexual assault survivors will speak about their transitions from victims to survivors. All of UMKC’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month events are free and open to the public, and no RSVP is required.

Co-sponsors of the event include the UMKC Women’s Center, Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, Fraternity and Sorority Council, Activity and Program Council, Diversity Week and other campus and community organizations.

In 1978, the first United States Take Back the Night march took place in San Francisco. Today, Take Back the Night coincides with Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which provides an annual opportunity to promote awareness of sexual violence and its prevention. Information on the national campaign and events can be found at http://www.nsvrc.org/saam/. For more information on Take Back the Night, visit http://takebackthenight.org.

“For many years, UMKC has hosted Take Back the Night marches,” said Kerra McCorkle, violence prevention coordinator at the UMKC Women’s Center. “Each year, this event provides a great forum for students and community members to speak out against violence, promote awareness of sexual violence prevention and find ways to reduce violence in Kansas City.”

Additional Events

On Thursday, April 22 the UMKC and Kansas City communities are invited to wear jeans in honor of Denim Day. Since 1999, Denim Day has been internationally-celebrated in protest of an Italian High Court ruling that overturned a rape conviction because the victim was wearing jeans. Enraged by the verdict, women of the Italian Legislature protested the decision by wearing jeans to work. As news of the decision spread, so did the protest. On April 22, universities, colleges, junior high and high schools, businesses, organizations and individuals will participate in Denim Day events. For more information on Denim Day, visit http://www.supportdenimday.com/.

The Women’s Center will offer sexual assault awareness and response information and items for sale on the following dates:

• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, April 5 at Johnson Residence Hall, 5051 Oak St.
• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 14 at the Health Sciences Building, 2464 Charlotte St.
• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21 at Royall Hall, 800 E. 52nd St.

The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 14,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a four-part mission: life and health sciences; visual and performing arts; urban issues and education; and a vibrant learning and campus life experience.