A million students across the country participate in RAINN Day
HOUGHTON -- It's not always easy to stand up to a friend who says or does something inappropriate, but on Thursday, dozens of Michigan Tech students learned why it’s important to intervene in situations of sexual aggression.
"I don't think sexual assault is a big problem at Michigan Tech, but it's good to see this kind of program because it'll help prevent that from being a problem in the future," says PhD student Dan Seguin.
Members of the newly-formed S.A.V.E. group, which stands for Sexual Aggression Violence Education, performed several skits for students during the lunchtime rush in the Memorial Union Building. Tech athletes helped out by circulating pledges for everyone to sign.
"Students aren't just being lectured about sexual violence, we're teaching them first-hand," says Lucia Gregorakis, who founded S.A.V.E. "That way if something is going on, we can call it out and they'll get the message much stronger."
The Tech Educating Responsible Relationships committee has partnered with Dial Help for the past few years to sponsor these RAINN Day activities on campus.
RAINN Day is an annual campaign by the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network to raise awareness among students.
"We know it happens and that a lot of times it goes unreported because people don't know what services are available to them," says Rhys Edwards, sexual violence prevention coordinator for Dial Help. "That’s what we're educating them about."
Edwards says it’s important for victims to remember it is never their fault, and that there are many organizations on and off campus available to help.
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