Here is a topic that is often difficult, occasionally uncomfortable, but always necessary to discuss: Sexual Assault. Those two words probably evoked some kind of response from you, perhaps even an eye roll from people who do not realize the magnitude or frequency of this issue. Statistically speaking, 1 in 5 women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime, and 1 in 33 men will also be the victims of a sexual assault in his lifetime. However, those numbers are not just empty statistics with insignificant meaning. They represent real women and men. A sexual assault occurs in the United States alone every 2 minutes. In fact, as bold as it is to say, you most likely know a victim of sexual assault; you probably know several. Sexual assault is not something you can recognize in people, and it is usually something survivors keep very private, as the stigma attached to sexual assault is often a burden to carry on its own.

Over the past couple of weeks, both the LSU community and the Baton Rouge community have offered a few different events to promote the awareness and prevention of sexual violence in our community.

Here is a re-cap of a few events I personally attended.

Hunks In Heels

The third annual Hunks in Heels event occurred on Wednesday, October 14th at the Varsity Theater. Baton Rouge’s Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response (STAR) put on the event, and recruited 12 'hunks' to raise awareness and funds for both programs for survivors of sexual assault and programs to promote the prevention of this issue. The men who rocked one of a kind, custom made heels and strutted their stuff in the name of change represent a diverse group in our community, including men from the restaurant scene, men in the medical field, politicians, and business owners. The event featured individual performances and dances from each of the hunks, as well as musical performances from Quiana Lynell and the Lush Life. Hunks in Heels included the distribution of delicious, gourmet cake balls from Brew Ha Ha Café, and a fabulous red carpet scene, making it a fun, glamorous event for a serious cause. At the end of the night, Matthew Laborde of Forum 35, personally raising the most money, was revealed the winner of the Hunks. Overall, it was certainly a night to remember and a “must attend” event to mark in your calendars for next year.

Take Back the Night

LSU’s 29th Annual Take Back the Night took place Sunday, October 11th, and this year’s event was particularly powerful and transformative. Beginning with an information fair and free entertainment, the night started off as a light hearted social gathering. However, after several speeches, a survivor speak-out, and a candlelight vigil held for all who have lost their lives to domestic or sexual violence in the Baton Rouge area, the crowd was ready to march for change. The crowd marched around LSU’s campus for about an hour chanting mantras such as “Wherever we go, however we dress, no means no, and yes means yes,” and “We won’t be raped. We won’t be beat. Not in our homes, and not in our streets.” Individuals held signs and megaphones to stress their concerns and anger towards these recurring issues in our community. The march was powerful, as it caused many individuals to come out of their homes and dormitories to view it for themselves. Some individuals even chanted along with us. Next year, hopefully there will be less victims of these crimes and more individuals who will attend this significant event.

LSU screens The Hunting Ground

The Women and Gender Studies department invited the campus and community to view a special screening of The Hunting Ground on Thursday, October 8th. The documentary covers the issue of sexual assault and its lack of response on college campuses. The film is both incredibly informative and emotionally moving. It includes statistics, personal interviews, and the journey of two young brave girls across America with the mission of aiding silenced victims of sexual assault to speak up and fight back against the Universities who turned a blind eye to their search for justice. Following the screening, an effective discussion was led where students stood up to vocalize their opinions on how best to prevent this issue on our very own campus. Many initiatives were announced and several plans to bring more awareness and prevention tactics to LSU are to hopefully be put forward soon.

All of these events worked to raise awareness and prevention against sexual violence in our community; however, sexual assault is something we should be aware of and attempt to prevent at all times. To end this issue, it will take everyone in the community. Remember if you see something, say something. Sexual assault is never acceptable. For anyone who has suffered from assault or who may know a survivor of assault, STAR offers free, anonymous counseling and recovery programs. It is also a phenomenal organization for anyone to get involved with. You can reach the 24 hour crisis hotline at 225-383-RAPE.

Please Note: The picture for this article is not one of my own. The copyright for this photo is Dubinsky Photography, and many more photos from this event can be found on their website.