Fresno State’s commitment to raise awareness and crack down on sexual assault continues during Sexual Assault Awareness Month with several events, including the Stop the Silence Campaign April 21-24.

Presented by victimology students and faculty in the Department of Criminology, the four–day campaign seeks to raise awareness and address the issues and challenges of dealing with sexual assault, said Amber Ingraham, a senior criminology major from Lemoore who is the student media coordinator of the campaign.

The campaign includes the involvement of the statewide Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice network, Rape Counseling Services of Fresno, the Sexual Assault/Child Abuse Unit of the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, the Fresno State Police Department and the University’s Women’s Studies Program and Women’s Resource Center.

It includes a pledge signing April 21-24, the Crime Victims and Survivors Safety Net Conference and panel followed by a screening of the film “The Hunting Ground” on April 24. On April 29, Denim Day will be held for people to wear jeans in support of survivors of sexual assault, as well as a panel on LGBTQIA sexual assault.

“Sexual assault is a serious issue on college campuses, so please join us in this campaign to create awareness and share prevention tips for on-campus sexual assault,” Ingraham said.

All Fresno State students are now required to take an online educational course — the Haven Understanding Sexual Assault module — on sexual violence and its impact on college students and society at large.

“We are committed to creating and sustaining a campus community free of sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, sex discrimination and sexual harassment,” said University President Joseph I. Castro when the training was announced in December.

Supporters can help spread awareness by signing the “It’s On Us” pledge from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. April 21-23 in the Free Speech Area at Fresno State, and from 12:30-1:30 p.m. on April 24 at the registration desk in the Peters Education Center.

Pins and other commemorative items will be given out at the pledge booths.

The Stop the Silence Campaign will also include the third Crime Victims and Survivors Safety Net Conference from 1-4:30 p.m. Friday, April 24 in the Peters Education Center.

The victimology conference is presented by the Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, a statewide network of Californians for Safety and Justice that gives survivors of crime a voice in public policy. The conference is funded by the College of Social Sciences at Fresno State.

Its purpose is to build on the collaborative work among and between victims and survivors, victim services and members of the criminal justice system, said Dr. Yoshiko Takahashi, victimology coordinator and associate professor of criminology.

“We must strengthen the safety net in addressing victim trauma response and recovery,” Takahashi said.

Registration will begin at 12:30 p.m., followed by the film screening from 1-3 p.m. A panel discussion from 3:15-4:30 p.m. will include:

  • Stephanie Canales, crisis response advocate at Rape Counseling Services of Fresno
  • Jessica Adams, Women’s Resource Center coordinator
  • Lt. Jen Curwick of the Fresno State Police Department
  • Chief Midori L. Howo, chief deputy district attorney for the Sexual Assault/Child Abuse Unit of the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office
  • Amber Menagh, a sexual assault survivor
  • Shelby Brisky, victimology student

Seating is limited for the free, public conference. RSVP is required by email to ytakahashi@csufresno.edu by April 22.

For more information, contact Ingraham at amber_ingraham_342@mail.fresnostate.edu.

(University Communications news assistant Akyia Westley contributed to this report.)

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