Spelman College Continues the Fight Against Sexual Assault of Women

ATLANTA, GA–Approximately, one in five young women will be sexually assaulted while in college, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. To help increase awareness and combat this alarming statistic, Spelman College will host a variety of events, April 21-23, in support of Denim Day 2014 and in recognition of National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.

Because young women between the ages of 16-24 still experience high rates of dating violence and stalking, a campus-wide committee at Spelman College has teamed together to keep this issue in the forefront of the Atlanta community. In support of this movement, the following events are planned:

• A YouTube Flash Card Campaign
• Shoebox Project: toiletry collection for a local shelter for women and children
• A convocation titled “Denim Day: Speaking Louder About Sexual Assault”
• A discussion facilitated by Spelman’s Women Against Violence class on Danielle McGuire’s book, At the Dark End of the Street: Black Women, Rape, and Resistance – A New History of the Civil Rights Movement from Rosa Parks to the Rise of Black Power
• A film screening of Playground, which explores the issue of sex trafficking

Spelman and Morehouse College students will engage in dialogue focused on acquaintance rape and intimate partner violence at 7 p.m., April 22, during the panel “Blurred Lines: Why Consent Matters.” In addition, information addressing sexual assault will be distributed throughout the three-day period. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.spelman.edu.

About Denim Day
Denim Day is a project of Peace over Violence, a non-profit, feminist, multicultural, volunteer organization dedicated to building healthy relationships, families and communities free from sexual, domestic and interpersonal violence. Denim Day was launched in 1999, in protest of an Italian High Court ruling that overturned a rape conviction because the victim was wearing “tight” jeans.

About Spelman College
Founded in 1881, Spelman College is a highly selective, liberal arts college widely recognized as the global leader in the education of women of African descent. Located in Atlanta, Ga., the College’s picturesque campus is home to 2,100 students. Outstanding alumnae include Children’s Defense Fund Founder Marian Wright Edelman; Sam’s Club CEO Rosalind Brewer, Broadway Producer Alia Jones, Former Acting Surgeon General and Spelman’s first alumna President Audrey Forbes Manley, Harvard University Professor Evelynn Hammonds, Author Pearl Cleage and Actress LaTanya Richardson Jackson. For more information, visitwww.spelman.edu.