This April is the 21^st anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Although it didn’t officially receive a name until the early 2000s, the history of Sexual Assault Awareness as a cause can be traced back nearly 70 years in unison with the Civil Rights Movement.

Discussions about the realities of sexual violence were rarely had during that time, but activists with a passion to be the difference began to challenge the status quo. 

According to RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) sexual violence is an all-encompassing, non-legal term that refers to crimes like sexual assault, rape, and sexual abuse.

Anyone can experience sexual violence. According to the National Sexual Violence Research Center, one in five women and one in four men in the United States have experienced sexual violence throughout their lifetime. The abuser is most likely to be an acquaintance, a family member, or some other trusted individual; violence at the hands of a stranger is the least common category.

As a brother of Sig Tau, you lead a life of nobility and aspire to our Principles. You have an opportunity to not only advocate for change but be the change you want to see in your campus community.

The first step for you and your brothers will be to educate yourselves on sexual assault statistics, so you can be fully informed on the realities of it. The second step is to be knowledgeable of your campus’ resources regarding sexual assault reporting. The third step is to practice active bystander intervention, so you can be a more proactive presence in your community.

Below, you will find several resources that will help you and your Sig Tau brothers continue to be an asset and an ally to those affected by sexual violence.

Resources

• https://sigtau.org/resources/undergraduate/sexual-violence-prevention/
• https://www.rainn.org/articles/practicing-active-bystander-intervention
• https://www.rainn.org/articles/your-role-preventing-sexual-assault
• https://womenfamilies.org/sexual-assault-center/10-ways-to-prevent-sexual-violence/
• https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/tix_dis.html 

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ABOUT SIGMA TAU GAMMA
Founded at the University of Central Missouri on June 28, 1920, Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity celebrated 100 years of brotherhood in 2020. In the last 100 years, the organization has called 197 campuses home and has more than 73,000 initiated members. With a current presence on 67 campuses from coast to coast, our membership includes nearly 2,500 undergraduate men. The Headquarters, which is home to the Fraternity, Foundation, and WPN Housing Company, is located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Visit https://sigtau.org for additional information.