A&M-Corpus Christi Hosts Educational Events in Support of Sexual Assault Awareness Month

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – One out of every six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime, and one out of every 10 rape victims are male, according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). RAINN also reports that over 23 percent of female undergraduate college students are survivor of sexual assault or rape, and male undergraduate college students are nearly 80 percent more likely to be victims of these crimes versus men who do not attend college.  

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is dedicated to not only preventing sexual assault but also providing educational opportunities to bring awareness to the seriousness of sexual assault. In support of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), the Office of the Associate Dean of Students (OADS) at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi will host several educational and engaging activities for students, faculty, staff, campus community and the community at large throughout the month of April.

 “Sexual violence impacts all communities, not just colleges and universities,” said Angela Walker, associate dean of students at A&M-Corpus Christi. “We ask all members of the community to step up and take a stand against sexual violence.”

The SAAM feature event this year is the Islanders Race to Zero 5K Walk/Run. OADS will host this inaugural walk/run on Friday, April 20, at 6:45 p.m. on the University’s hike and bike trail.  Participants will meet at the Hammerhead Parking Lot and the race will conclude in front of Island Hall. The race aims to raise awareness concerning issues of sexual violence and provide resource for individuals who are, or know someone who is, a victim of sexual assault. After the race, there will be a resource fair with campus/community partners and a candlelight vigil to honor victims of sexual violence. While registration is required, the race is free for Islander students and pricing information for faculty, staff and the community can be found here. Proceeds from this event benefit sexual violence prevention and awareness initiatives.

Other SAAM events include: 

• April 2: Self-Defense Class: Will be hosted from 6-8 p.m. in the Dugan Wellness Center, Motor Development Lab room 139. The event will feature instruction from Hershel Shoats of Silverback Wellness LLC.  The event is free and open to students, however space is limited and participation is first-come, first-served. For more information, email Angela.Walker@tamucc.edu; or call 361.825.6219.
• April 12: ‘Painting for Awareness with Sofia’: Will be hosted from 4-6 p.m. in the University Center, Bayview room 320. Participants will paint a powerful design created by Sofia Rodriguez, an A&M-Corpus Christi student, which highlights the importance of sexual violence awareness and prevention. The event is free and open to all students, though registration is required through OrgSync. Participation is guaranteed to the first 30 RSVP’s. Email Michael.LaTorre@tamucc.edu with any questions.
• April 26: Denim Day: Will be hosted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the East Lawn. Denim Day is a national event where participants can decorate jeans with messages that bring awareness sexual violence and show support for sexual assault victims. Participants are encouraged to wear jeans on this day and come to share their message regarding sexual violence and get information on campus/community resources. For more information about Denim Day, visit http://denimdayinfo.org/.     

Volunteers are needed to make Sexual Assault Awareness Month a success. Email Michael.LaTorre@tamucc.edu to learn more about volunteering.