The Center for Advocacy, Response and Education is hosting events throughout April to raise awareness of the impact of sexual assault and show support for sexual assault survivors.
This year is the 20th anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Melissa Wilkerson, victim advocate for Student Affairs, said the month focuses on activities that teach sexual assault awareness and ways to get involved in sexual assault prevention.
Lanie Stutz, victim advocate for Student Affairs, said the âWhat Were You Wearing?â Survivor Art Installation showcases various sexual assault survivor stories by displaying clothing that tries to replicate the clothing of survivors when they were sexually assaulted.
Staff Writer
CADIZ The Harrison County Board of Commissioners signed a proclamation Wednesday presented by Tri-County Help Center recognizing April as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.
As a part of Tri-County Help Center’s annual campaign to spread awareness, staff have attended commission meetings throughout the week in Belmont, Monroe and Harrison counties, where the agency provides services.
On Wednesday, Chelsea Scott, administrative compliance coordinator for Tri-County Help Center, said each year they ask officials in each county to accept and declare the proclamation identifying April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Scott read the proclamation, which calls on members of the community to aid in the efforts to expand sexual assault prevention efforts and help to ensure the next generation adopts attitudes that support and promote healthy relationships.
Lima-area sexual assaults climb during pandemic
By David Trinko - dtrinko@limanews.com
Ryn Farmer, left, of Crime Victim Services, talks about Sexual Assault Awareness Month while Pamela Silver listens Wednesday at Lima Mayor David Berger’s weekly press conference.
David Trinko | The Lima News
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Read more about the pandemic at LimaOhio.com/tag/coronavirus.
LIMA People sheltered at home in 2020 to try to feel safe in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
Instead, more people in the region found themselves sexually assaulted than in 2019, with a 20% increase in the number of sexual violence survivors served by Crime Victim Services, said Ryn Farmer, director of Day One of Crime Victim Services.
CHRIS MORELLI cmorelli@lockhaven.com
TIM WEIGHT/FOR THE EXPRESS
The Brockerhoff House in Bellefonte will receive a historic âtablet.â The building has been a part of Bellefonte since the 1800s. Once a hotel, it is a residential facility today.
BELLEFONTE Bellefonte is host to a variety of historic sites. On Tuesday, the Centre County commissioners announced that one site will be getting a special designation.
The Brockerhoff House, located at 105 S. Allegheny St. in Bellefonte, will receive a historic “tablet” commemorating the location. The cost of the tablet will be a mere $280, which will be funded by the county.
Letter: Change the narrative: end victim blaming
The existence of sexual violence in the workplace and in our communities has received increased media coverage over the last several years. Raising awareness about sexual violence is important. However, with these experiences being more broadly shared, victim blaming has also come to the forefront.
Sexual violence doesn’t happen because of lust or desire. It happens because of power and control. It is the absence of consent. The absence of a clear and resounding “yes!”.
According to the Center for Disease Control, nearly 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men will experience sexual violence in their lifetime. As we grapple with these realities, we must remember that sexual assault is never the victim’s fault. Sexual assault is a violent attack on an individual, not a spontaneous crime of sexual passion. No one “asks” for or deserves this type of attack.