Sexual Assault Awareness Month
In the month of April, the Office of Title IX & Discrimination Resolution and Partners aim to educate, share resources, and bring everyone together to raise awareness about sexual violence by planning and hosting events for all of SHSU.
Theme
This year our campaign is "Kats Paws for Consent." Consent is an agreement between participants to engage in sexual activity. Consent should be clearly and freely communicated. A verbal and affirmative expression of consent can help both you and your partner to understand and respect each other’s boundaries.
Schedule
Events hosted on campus are free and open to all faculty, staff and students at Sam Houston State University. Details are provided below for each event description. We look forward to seeing you!
April 1-30
Social
SAAM Social Media Kickoff
30 days of SAAM - Post and tag a picture of your support using #30DAYSOFSAAM and #SHSUSAAM2024The 30 days of SAAM social media campaign engages the campus community with daily action prompts to promote awareness and prevention of sexual assault. We will randomly select social media participants throughout the month to receive the commemorative SHSU SAAM 2024 T-shirt. The participants will be announced via social media and posted to @SHSUSAAM2024. The Campaign will run from April 1st - April 30th.
Sponsored by: Office of Title IX & Discrimination Resolution
April 1-30
Social
SAAM Bingo Activity
Happiness is yelling “Bingo!”Get your Bingo card and with 5 completed squares in a row (horizontal, vertical or diagonal), win a prize. Bingo cards may be picked up at the SAAM Kickoff and Teal Ribbon Giveaway on April 1st in the Frank Parker Plaza or can be picked up at the Office of Title IX & Discrimination Resolution between 8am - 5pm. – Thomason Building, suite 302.
Sponsored by: Office of Title IX & Discrimination Resolution
April 1-30
Newton Gresham Library
SAAM Read and Grow
Books can change your life! Stop by the display at the Newton Gresham Library highlighting books on trauma, resilience, and recovery. Free bookmarks will be available.Sponsored by: Newton Gresham Library & the Office of Title IX & Discrimination Resolution
April 1
11:00am to 1:00pm
Frank Parker Plaza
SAAM Kickoff and Teal Ribbon Giveaway
Come join the Sexual Assault Awareness Month kick-off event with the purpose of creating awareness for sexual assault prevention at SHSU. Come get a free teal ribbon to show your support and a chance to get free prizes for SAAM.
Sponsored by: Office of Title IX & Discrimination Resolution
April 2
11:00am to 1:00pm
General's Market
"Is This O-Queso? Let's Taco 'Bout It" on Taco Tuesday
Come grab a taco and some teal desserts at General's Market. We can "Taco 'bout" consent, which is an important part of any healthy relationship and find out "Is this O-Queso."
Sponsored by: Office of Title IX & Discrimination Resolution and Aramark
April 3
10:00am to 12:00pm
Criminal Justice Center Bates Room
Painting with a Purpose
The SHSU CJ Department of Victim Studies invites you to join them for "Painting with a Purpose." The event provides an opportunity for SHSU CJ students, faculty, staff along with members of our community to gather to create art. Participants are welcome to keep their paintings or donate them to a fundraiser which benefits local survivors. All supplies will be provided!
Sponsored by: SHSU Department of Victim Studies
April 4
11:00am to 1:00pm
LSC RM 230A&B
SAAM Resource Fair
Come visit with campus and community partners who will provide helpful resources and grab a sweet treat! SAAM aims to educate, share resources, and bring everyone together to raise awareness about sexual violence.
Sponsored by: Office of Title IX & Discrimination Resolution
April 8
4:00pm to 6:00pm
LSC RM 230A&B
Consent + FRIES: Learn about consent and counseling services
FRIES is a national program discussing and educating on consent. Enjoy free fries! Visit all stations and be entered to win a $25 gift card.
FRIES=Freely Given/ Reversible/ Informed/ Enthusiastic/ Specific
Sponsored by: SHSU Counseling Center
April 9
6:30pm
Don Sanders Stadium
"Steal for Teal" Baseball Game
Men's Baseball v. University of Houston
Annual SHSU men's baseball game to show support for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Come cheer on the baseball team and show your support for sexual assault prevention at SHSU.
Sponsored by: SHSU Athletics
April 10
10:00am to 11:00am
LSC RM 116
Staff Senate Hot Topic: Navigating Title IX Scenarios
Event for SHSU Staff & Faculty
Dive deeper with SHSU’s Title IX Coordinator, Natalie Isaac, as she discusses Title IX scenarios from SHSU and mandatory reporting requirements under the TSUS Sexual Misconduct Policy.
Sponsored by: Staff Senate & Office of Title IX & Discrimination Resolution
April 10
12:30 to 1:30pm
Frank Parker Plaza
Health Hut-Consent
The SHSU Peer Health Ambassador Group will be providing information and resources relating to consent.
Sponsored by: SHSU Peer Health Ambassador Group
April 16
11:00am to 1:00pm
Frank Parker Plaza
SAAM Greek Banner Battle
Stop by the Frank Parker Plaza and vote on your favorite SAAM Greek Banner created by our SHSU fraternities & sororities in support of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Voting begins on April 16th at 11:00am and will end on April 19th at 11:00am on the SHSU SAAM 2024 Facebook page.
Sponsored by: DOSO’s Fraternity & Sorority Life
April 17
2:00pm with reception following
Criminal Justice Center Auditorium
Victimization in Comics: Batman, Spider-Verse, The Walking Dead, and Beyond
Come listen to author, Travis Langley Ph.D. from Henderson State University who teaches on the psychology of crime, mental illness, social behavior, and media.
Sponsored by: SHSU Department of Victim Studies
April 18
6:00pm to 8:00pm
Kat Klub
SLAM4SAAM Poetry Slam
Come join us at our first SAAM poetry slam. This event will give students the opportunity to share the power of spoken word with original poetry pieces to help break the silence in support of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Sponsored by: SHSU Common Reader Program and the LSC’s Kat Klub
April 18
All day
AB III
ROTC Bearkat Battalion - Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Awareness Day
The SHSU ROTC program will be conducting events with its members in support of sexual assault and sexual harassment prevention and to promote awareness on campus.
Sponsored by: SHSU Military Science Department
April 23
11:00am to 1:00pm
General's Market
"Is This O-Queso? Let's Taco 'Bout It" on Taco Tuesday
Come grab a taco and some teal desserts at General's Market. We can "Taco 'bout" consent, which is an important part of any healthy relationship and find out "Is this O-Queso."
Sponsored by: Office of Title IX & Discrimination Resolution and Aramark
April 24
6:30pm
Bearkat Softball Complex
"Steal for Teal" Softball Game
Women's Softball v. Texas A&M University
Annual SHSU women's softball game to show support for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Come cheer on the softball team and show your support for sexual assault prevention at SHSU.
Sponsored by: SHSU Athletics
April 23-25
Activity: (see times below)
Display: 8:00am to 5:00pm
Frank Parker Plaza
"Denim Day Stories" Activity & Display
"Denim Day" is a call to action for the campus community to participate and come together by sharing and wearing denim as a visible sign of support against sexual assault. Come out and participate in the workshop with CVSA to advocate for Sexual Assault Awareness Month by writing statements on denim.
Tuesday & Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Frank Parker PlazaWednesday 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Frank Parker Plaza
Sponsored by: Crime Victim Services Alliance (CVSA)
April 24
11:30pm
Bell Tower
"National Denim Day" Group Photo
Wear Denim or Your SAAM T-shirt to Support Sexual Assault Awareness
"Denim Day" is a call to action for everyone to come together by wearing denim as a visible sign of support against sexual assault. Please wear your denim to show your support for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. All campus community members are encouraged to participate in the group photo.
Sponsored by: Office of Title IX & Discrimination Resolution
April 30
6:00pm
LSC RM 230 A&B
Take Back the Night
"Take Back the Night" promotes awareness and honors survivors of sexual assault and sexual violence on campus and in the Huntsville community. Rally, march & speak out. Refreshments provided.
Sponsored by: Office of Title IX & Discrimination Resolution and SHSU Department of Victim Studies
Free Stuff
Enjoy free shirts, prizes and resources by attending events and following us on social media!
Participate in #30DAYSOFSAAM social media campaign.
Like, repost and share posts by @SHSUSAAM2024 all month long for a chance to win free prizes!
Resources
Campus Resources
- Online Sexual Assault Reporting Form - If you or someone you know has been subjected to sexual assault, sexual violence, or any other form of gender-discrimination, you may report such misconduct with the Office of Title IX & Discrimination Resolution.
- SHSU Complainant & Respondent Rights - Learn more about your rights concerning sexual misconduct at SHSU.
- SHSU Support Services - Learn more about available resources such as counseling, medical, mental health, law enforcement, immigration, or services for victims/respondents, both on campus and in the community.
- Seek Treatment and/or a Forensic Examination - An exam to document physical condition to provide treatment and collect evidence in response to sexual misconduct.
National Resources
- What Consent Looks Like - The laws vary by state and situation, but you don’t have to be a legal expert to understand how consent plays out in real life.
- How to Respond if Someone Is Pressuring You - If someone is pressuring you to engage in sexual activity, it is important to remember that being in this situation is not your fault. Here are some strategies to try.
- Safety Planning - Brainstorming ways to stay safe may help reduce the risk of future harm.
- Safety Tips for Traveling - Whether you travel often or you’re getting ready for a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, it’s important to think about safety as part of your travel preparations.
- Alcohol Safety - There are steps you can take to increase your safety in situations where drinking may be involved. Like any safety tips, they are not a guarantee, but they may help you feel more secure in social situations.
- Let's Talk About... - Check out RAINN's comics on consent, safe dating tips for teens, talking with young children about sexual assault, and talking with college students about stay safe on campus.
Source RAINN: https://www.rainn.org/materials
Sponsors & Partners
The mission of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) is to facilitate and support a collaborative, experiential approach to the prevention of and response to sexual violence at Sam Houston State University. Programs and events sponsored by these partners seek to prevent domestic and sexual violence by advocating for bystander intervention, fostering understanding of sexual misconduct and providing relevant information and resources to empower victims and survivors of sexual assault and/or rape.
2024 SAAM Sponsors & Partners
- Aramark
- Athletics
- Common Reader Program
- Counseling Center
- Crime Victim Services Alliance
- Department of Victim Studies
- DOSO’s Fraternity & Sorority Life
- Legal & Mediation Services
- LSC’s Kat Klub
- Military Science Department
- Newton Grisham Library
- Peer Health Ambassadors/Health Center
- Staff Senate
- Student Money Management
2024 Community Partners
- Forensic Center of Excellence
- Huntsville Police Department
- Montgomery County District Attorney
- Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
- Montgomery County Women’s Center
- SAAFE House
- Tri-County Behavioral Healthcare
- Walker County Criminal District Attorney’s Office
Contact Us
For feedback, partnership or to volunteer, contact the Office of Title IX & Discrimination Resolution.
Thomason Building, Suite 302
Tel: 936-294-3080
Email: titleix@shsu.edu