California State University, Bakersfield is recognizing national Sexual Assault Awareness Month with several events in April.
The programming starts on Wednesday with a kick-off at the Student Union Patio, which will include a resource booth, giveaways and more. The goals of the programming are to support sexual assault survivors as well as to educate the campus community in the hopes of preventing future assaults.
“Sexual assault is a hard discussion to have, but statistics show it happens to many students. If we talk more about it, then it will be easier for students to come forward,” said Olivia Warren, who helped organize the programming as Campus Advocate prior to leaving the position in March. “We really want to create a community of support at CSUB, bring awareness and ensure that students know that they have access to resources on campus that can help them.”
Students can talk to the Campus Advocate confidentially about their experiences, file a report as well as get information about counseling and other support services.
On April 20, a virtual panel discussion will be held at 4 p.m. with Mariela Gomez from the Dreamers Resource Center and Kassie Mullican from Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance Inc. The “Speak Up! It Matters” panel, which is open to the public, will focus on how to better support undocumented individuals who have experienced sexual assault.
Gerardo Bobadilla, who will also be on the panel and is a program specialist for CSUB’s Office on Violence Against Women, said organizers wanted to focus on undocumented students because many sexual assault cases involving that part of the population go unreported.
“A lot of them already fear law enforcement and the court system because they’re undocumented,” he said. “We want to let them know that they still have rights even if they’re undocumented, that they shouldn’t be afraid to speak up. I’m very happy that we’re bring this issue forward and shining a light on it.”
Warren said she hopes the discussion will help undocumented students feel supported on campus.
“Oftentimes we see with sexual assault that it happens with marginal populations at a much greater rate,” she said. “We wanted to ensure that they feel seen and heard, that they have support and resources on campus that they can come to.”
As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, CSUB will also observe Denim Day on April 27, which was created in 1999 following an Italian rape conviction that was overturned by a court because the justices felt the victim was implying sexual consent by wearing tight jeans.
CSUB students, faculty and staff are encouraged to wear denim to show support for sexual assault survivors.
“It doesn’t matter what you wear or what you’re doing — sexual assault is never okay, and it’s never the victim’s fault,” Warren said.
Warren hopes students, faculty and staff and the community will take advantage of the programming that has been planned for April.
“It’s really essential that everyone on campus know that services exist,” she said. “I want students to know that they don’t have to report to receive support and resources on campus and that there really are those that care and want to ensure that they not only succeed in their education but their entire life.”
For more information about services provided through the Campus Advocate office, visit the Equity, Inclusion and Compliance website.
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