What is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM)?
Sexual Assault Awareness Month is a national campaign implemented by Iowa State University each year in April that aims to accomplish the following two goals:
- Raise awareness about the important role that all students, faculty, and staff can play in preventing sexual violence and building a holistic culture or well-being on campus;
- Share information and resources that help students, faculty, and staff understand what to do when sexual violence occurs in our community.
Together, these two goals are intended to advance ISU towards a vision of campus where sexual violence is not tolerated and where everyone does their part to look out for one another's safety and well-being. Accordingly, Sexual Assault Awareness Month aims to move from education and awareness into community mobilization and sustained action.
Why should you participate in SAAM?
Completing this form is an opportunity for you and your department, student org, chapter, class, or other group to get involved with SAAM by hosting your own event or program with the support of the SAAM planning committee. With our goal of community mobilization, we know that the most impactful events and programs are collaborative and tailored to reach every part of our Cyclone community.
Things to keep in mind for your submission
While we welcome a wide variety of submissions from presentations to social gatherings to displays, we encourage you to keep the following things in mind when thinking about your submission:
- You don't need to know everything. The SAAM planning committee with work closely with you to ensure that your event or program is impactful and contributes to the vision of ending sexual violence.
- Keep in mind that people in your group may have experienced sexual violence or know someone who has. Consider including confidential resources at your event, such as an advocate from ACCESS or Student Counseling Services.
- Avoid submissions that promote victim-blaming or other harmful ideas.Victim-blaming occurs when the harmed person is blamed for violence committed against them (e.g., because of what they were wearing, where they were, how much they drank, etc.). Harmed people are not responsible for the violence committed against them, and the only way to prevent violence is through community-building and cultural shifts.
- Tailor your submission to your group. What are their specific needs and how can you best engage them?
- Make sure your submission connects back to one or both of goals listed above for SAAM.