During the month of April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, public colleges and universities throughout Utah hosted a variety of events designed to raise awareness of campus sexual assault.

University of Utah
The University of Utah held events during the month focused around their 2017 theme of “Engage Voices, Challenge Rape Culture” to help raise awareness of the issue and create a safer campus. The university offered bystander intervention training which empowers people to intervene in (and prevent) potentially harmful situations. The training also emphasizes the importance each student plays at the U to make the campus a safer place. Additionally, the university also held discussions to introduce the U’s new policy on sexual violence and to explain what impact the policy would have on students and the campus.

On April 5, students of the U and community members took part in a Take Back the Night march to show their support for victims of sexual violence.

Utah State University
Utah State University hosted Walk a Mile in Her Shoes on April 12. The walk is an opportunity for men and women to take a stand against sexual assault and gender violence by walking a mile in high heel shoes. This was the 13th year USU’s Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence Information office has hosted the march on the campus.

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University also held a Take Back the Night march on their campus. The march was hosted by the Canyon Creek Women’s Crisis Center to educate and empower the student community against sexual violence. After the march, participants gathered to honor survivors through word and song.

Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake Community College participated in the national It’s On Us campaign, which encourages students to stand up to sexual violence by being a proactive part of the solution. The campaign focuses on awareness of campus sexual assault and consent.

Weber State University
Weber State University also held a Take Back the Night rally to unite students and community members in the fight against sexual violence on April 14. Take Back the Night events have been held on campuses around the world for more than 30 years. This is the second year WSU held its own march. Following the march, participants were able to share their experience or offer support to victims and survivors in a safe discussion through spoken word, music or art.

WSU hosted the Clothesline Project, a visual representation of the experiences of survivors of rape/sexual assault. Students and community members were invited to make an awareness-raising T-shirt to be displayed in the project.

Snow College
Snow College also hosted the Clothesline Project at their campus in Richfield. The New Horizons Crisis Center facilitated the event to educate and empower the student community against sexual violence. T-shirts were created by survivors of sexual assault or domestic violence or in honor of someone who has experienced violence.