Pop-up workshops spread awareness, talk sexual assault prevention

The Center for Health Education and Wellness held a pop-up installation for sexual assault prevention Monday, Sept. 14, in front of the Alumni Memorial Building. The workshop was organized in order to spread awareness of rape culture on UT’s campus.

Students were informed of the statistics of sexual assault and how to be an “active bystander.” Free t-shirts with messages describing situations where sexual assault is more likely to occur were handed out. Students are encouraged to wear the shirts every Tuesday for the month of September to spread the awareness to others on campus.

The students were also asked to pledge that they would be an active bystander when they see something they feel is wrong happening by signing a red fabric. The red fabric symbolized the “Red Zone,” a time period after classes start back when students are more at risk for sexual assault.

Fletcher Haverkamp, prevention program coordinator, said the most important way for the statistics about sexual assault on UT’s campus to decrease is for students to become trained active bystanders.

They can do this by requesting different programs and attending open sessions.

Rebecca Juarez, wellness coordinator, stresses that Vols should help other Vols by being aware of what is going on around them.

“We have to think about personal safety, but the biggest thing we can do to prevent this is educating our students,” Juarez said.

More pop-up installations will be held throughout the month of September. You can visit their website for more information by clicking here.

Edited by Courtney Anderson