Utica’s SafeTrax to Host Two Events to Raise Awareness About Sexual Violence

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Utica’s SafeTrax to Host Two Events to Raise Awareness About Sexual Violence

Expert Panel, Take Back the Night March Slated for Friday

The statistics are shocking. One in three women worldwide will experience some form of sexual or intimate partner violence in their lifetime.

The Safe Trax program at Utica University will host an expert panel discussion on sexual violence on Friday, April 22. That evening, students, faculty and staff will march to “Take Back the Night” in an effort to end dating violence. All are welcome to participate.

Safe Trax's mission is to enhance prevention education and services to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking (SADVS).

According to Safe Trax Program Director Jennifer Jones, as well as Advocate and Safe Trax Prevention Educator Ann Locke, one in six men will also experience sexual violence and two in three transgender people will, as well.

The panel discussion will take place at 3 p.m. in the Willard Conference Room, DePerno Hall. The panel will feature Musco Millner, campus safety director; Lisa Green, vice president of human resources and Title IX coordinator; Maria Zak, counselor, Amanda Learnard, counselor; Michele Forbes, therapist, YWCA of the Mohawk Valley; and Jones.

Take Back the Night participants are invited to gather in the Ellen Knower Clarke Lounge, Strebel Student Center, at 7:15 Friday evening and then march through campus as one unified group.

Marchers will obtain candles and chant cards, as well as have an opportunity to sign the banner and get refreshments before following the course around campus. Walkers will then have a chance to participate in a proclamation and speak at the podium set up between Thurston and DePerno halls. With the support of those around, walkers will chant phrases of survivorship.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness month, an annual effort to raise awareness about sexual assault while educating communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence.

The development and implementation of the Safe Trax* program was made possible through a $298,330 grant from the Department of Justice's Reduce Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking on Campus Program.

For more information, contact Jones at jkjones@utica.edu. To learn more about the international event Take Back the Night, visit https://takebackthenight.org/.

*This project was supported by Grant No. 2019-WA-AX-0015 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.