CSUSM Hosts Sexual Assault Awareness Month Events in April

As part of efforts by California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) to raise awareness about sexual violence, the university is marking Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April with several events and the kickoff of the Red Flag Campaign.

The Red Flag Campaign is a national social media campaign created to promote bystander intervention strategies, encouraging friends and other campus community members to say or do something when they see warning signs —or “red flags”— for sexual and/or dating violence in their own or a friend’s relationship.

The campaign began at CSUSM on Monday, April 13 with the distribution of red flags placed in various locations on campus. For the next stage of the campaign, eight posters will be prominently displayed across campus, illustrating the red flags that might be present in a relationship in which dating violence is happening: coercion, emotional abuse, sexual assault, victim blaming, excessive jealousy, isolation and stalking.

“Sexual violence affects everyone – survivors, family, friends and loved ones – so this month we are encouraging our campus community to take action,” said Bridget Blanshan, associate vice president for Student Affairs and CSUSM’s Title IX Coordinator. “Attend a workshop, rally, lecture or training and learn how we can all support survivors and help end sexual assault and rape.”

Following is a listing of all upcoming Sexual Assault Awareness Month events, open to all CSUSM students, faculty and staff, and the external community:

Guest Speaker: Jeffrey Bucholtz, A Conversation about Bystander Intervention, Consent and Sexual Violence

Monday, April 20 at 6:30 p.m.

University Student Union, ballroom

Jeffrey Bucholtz, co-president of the San Diego Domestic Violence Council and co-director of We End Violence, is an award winning adjunct faculty member at Southwestern College and a faculty lecturer at San Diego State University. He will speak on the topics of bystander intervention, sexual violence, consent and the role of males in the prevention of sexual violence.

Know Your Title IX Rights Panel

Tuesday, April 21 at 3 p.m.

University Student Union, room 2310 A&B

Come and learn more about Title IX from a panel of campus and community members.

Bystander Intervention in the LGBTIQ Communities

Wednesday, April 22 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

University Student Union, ballroom

Speaker Liat Wexler from the Center for Community Solutions will provide a workshop on Bystander Intervention in the LGBTIQ Communities. Learn what it means to be an active bystander and what your options are to safely intervene. Explore the intersectional impacts of each type of intervention and determine the strategies that feel most comfortable for you to use. Walk away empowered with skills to prevent sexual assault in your community. Lunch will be provided.

Take Back the Night Rally and March

Thursday, April 23 at 5 p.m.

Forum Plaza

Take Back the Night is a rally and march designed to bring awareness to ending violence against women. Join us for poetry reading, resources, a survivor circle, candlelight vigil and march. This event is made possible by The H.O.P.E. and Wellness Center in Student Health and Counseling Services and other campus departments.

National Denim Day

Wednesday, April 29 - All day

Wear your denim to show your support for survivors, educate others and raise awareness of sexual violence.