WPI Recognizes Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2023

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) recognizes Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2023 by increasing awareness about the causes and risk factors for sexual assault and empowering individuals to take steps to prevent it in their communities. This April, we encourage all individuals, communities, and organizations to change ourselves and the systems surrounding us through self-education and institutional advocacy.  

STEM Scholar Highlights 

• Raychelle Burks, Ph.D. (Associate Professor of Chemistry, American University) 

• Kuheli Dutt (Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, MIT School of Science) 

• Miriam Eckerson, JD (Senior Counsel Advocacy and Government Relations, AWIS) 

Read, Watch, Listen, and Learn 

• Explore Gordon Library’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month LibGuide 

• Explore Study: Undergraduate Women Majoring in STEM More Frequently Face Sexual Assault Than Those Outside of STEM (Diverse Education) 

• Explore Combating Sexual Harassment in STEM Act 

• Explore Taking on Sexual Harassment in STEM

• Read Sexual Harassment of Women in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) 

• Read Meet Rape & Sexual Abuse Survivors on Pandora’s Project 

• Watch Picture A Scientist (2020) 

• Watch The Hunting Ground (2005) 

• Watch Sex for Grades (2019) 

• Watch Outcry (2020) 

• Listen to Resilient in STEM Podcast (Episode 4: 5 Ways to Support Sexual Assault Survivors) 

• Listen to The Sexual Violence Research Podcast 

• Listen to Indelible Podcast 

• Listen to Finding OK Podcast 

Take Action 

• Attend Sexual Assault Survivor Lunch & Learn: Empowerment, a Pathway to Healing 

  • Thursday, May 11, 2023 from 12:00 PM to 1 PM EST 

  • Register here 

• Attend Podcast on Consent with Dr. Elaine Byrne (Psychologist) 

  • Multiple dates

  • Register here 

• Attend What happens on a 24/7 Sexual Violence Help Line? 

  • Tuesday, April 18, 2023 from 8:00 PM to 8:45 PM EST

  • Register here 

• Register to Vote -OR- Check Your Voter Registration 

  • Everything you need to vote. Vote.org

• Become a Poll Worker

Thank you to the members of the Sexual Assault Awareness Month Planning Committee: 

• Brenda Cummings (Gordon C. Library)
• Ryan Duval (Title IX Office)
• Matthew Foster (the Housing & Residential Experience Center)
• Mia-Kay Fuller (ODIME)
• Stanley Horton (Title IX Office)
• Christine Sharry (Student Activities Office)
• Taylor Rohena (Office of Accessibility Services)
• Richard Song (Division of Talent and Inclusion)

“We take this moment to reflect on the strength and resilience of survivors and victims, the perseverance of advocates, and the dedication of the professionals in many fields who support those who experience sexual assault. Sexual assault can be a life-changing trauma for far too many of our neighbors, colleagues, family, and friends. The CDC has found that about 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men suffer sexual violence at some point in their lives. That trauma can be compounded by institutions and cultural perceptions that blame survivors rather than meet them where they are in their journey to healing, accountability and justice.” 

Learn More: www.justice.gov/ovw/blog/recognizing-national-sexual-assault-prevention-and-awareness-month-2021 

The Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education (ODIME) promotes and oversees all student facing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) learning experiences, programs, services, trainings, and initiatives for WPI.