天美影视传媒

USA HEART Project and 鈥業t鈥檚 on Us鈥� Spring Week of Action

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Posted on April 1, 2022

Joy Washington

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The HEART Project (Promoting Health, Empowerment, And Recovery from Trauma) of South Alabama invites the 天美影视传媒 community to participate in activities being held in concurrence with It鈥檚 On Us Spring Week of Action taking place April 4-8 in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. All events and activities are free and open to the public, other than those designated student-only.

HEART鈥檚 week of activities and events will serve as a critical reminder that everyone should play an active role in preventing interpersonal violence, which includes sexual assault, relationship abuse, stalking and sexual harassment.

鈥淕iven an estimated 13 percent of all college students, 28 percent of female undergraduates and 23 percent of gender non-conforming undergraduates, will experience sexual assault during college, we must come together as a community to prevent what is possible and support those victim-survivors who have been affected by sexual violence,鈥� said USA Heart Project Director Dr. Candice Selwyn.

A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, April 8, at the Student Health Center to announce the location of HEART.  One of the first main events being held is 鈥淪top the Silence: Survivors Speak Out鈥� to be held from 7-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5, at the Student Center Ballroom. This is a student-only event. You can follow HEART on Instagram @uofsouthal_heart.

鈥淲e鈥檙e incredibly excited to be hosting a week of events geared at raising awareness about sexual assault and supporting our student victim-survivors,鈥� Selwyn said. 鈥淥ur main event, 鈥淪top the Silence: Survivors Speak Out,鈥� will be an opportunity for student victim-survivors to share their story and invite allies to support them.鈥�

Selwyn said professional counselors and advocates have been invited to support students who have been personally affected by sexual assault.

鈥淭his is a completely voluntary event, and we ask that students who attend be respectful and supportive throughout the process,鈥� Selwyn noted. 鈥淐onfidential faculty and staff have also been invited to support students. This is otherwise a student-only event. We will have advocates and counselors available to support any students who may be upset by the material and hope to encourage students to seek help if they need it. HEART is here to help students who have experienced sexual assault no matter when or where the assault took place.鈥�

Selwyn and the HEART Project鈥檚 Multidisciplinary Team will support students who want to share their stories anonymously. .

In addition, students who would like to share their stories at the event can receive support in advance as they prepare their stories by speaking with an advocate. .

It鈥檚 On Us was founded in 2014 as a White House Initiative to change the culture of campus sexual assault.

The HEART Project was made possible through a nearly $500,000 grant from the Office of Justice Programs鈥� Office for Victims of Crime. 

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