Some Sexual Assault Awareness Month workshops move online

Before the coronavirus COVID-19 forces Pitt to move most students, faculty and staff off its campuses, the University was planning a series of workshops, information fairs and other events in April to mark Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

While several in-person events, such as a March Against Sexual Violence on April 3, have been postponed, the Title IX Office is going ahead where it can with webinars.

Just added is a webinar on "Gay Black and Latino Sexual Assault Survivors: Considerations When Working with Marginalized Populations" from 11 a.m.-noon April 16. This webinar will be focused on how to support sexual assault survivors belonging to marginalized communities – specifically gay Black and Latino men. Daniel Jacobson López, a postdoctoral associate at the Graduate School of Public Health will discuss his research on the sexual assault reporting process among gay Latino and black men and recommendations for supporting gay male sexual assault survivors of color. This workshop is open to all students, faculty and staff. Register here for this seminar.

The events are another extension of the University’s efforts to combat sexual assault and harassment that kicked into high gear last year after the AAU campus climate survey on sexual assault and misconduct was released.

All month long, the campus community is invited to share messages of support for survivors. These messages will be posted on the Pitt Supports Survivors webpage. People are also encouraged to post messages of support on their own social media accounts during the month of April using the hashtag #PittSupportsSurvivors. 

Upcoming events

Virtual resource fairs: April 1-17; with online Q&A sessions with the Title IX Office on April 2, Sexual Assault Facilitation and Education (SAFE) on April 7, Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR) on April 9 and SETPoint on April 10. Each day will also feature a different campus or community resource on the resource fair’s website.

Supporting Survivors: A Workshop for Faculty and Staff: 10 a.m.-noon April 6, online only. Pittsburgh Action Against Rape and Pitt’s Title IX Office will conduct an interactive workshop designed to help faculty and staff members best support survivors of sexual misconduct.  The workshop will discuss the effects of trauma, how to respond to disclosures of sexual violence, how to provide ongoing support and Pitt specific resources. Register to attend here.

Bystander Interventions for Sexual Harassment (graduate and professional students session): Noon-1:30 p.m. April 14, online only. Join peers from across Pitt in an interactive, discussion-based session designed to help graduate and professional students recognize and respond to sexual harassment and other types of harassment and discrimination in an academic setting. You will learn tips for how to intervene or be an ally, and how to report incidents or get help. Register here. A similar seminar for undergraduate students will be held from 4-5:15 p.m. April 8.

Preventing and Responding to Sexual Misconduct: 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. April 15, online only. This workshop will promote a common and consistent understanding and application of Pitt policies, standards and processes with regard to Title IX. In addition, participants will discuss the results of the recent AAU climate survey on sexual assault and sexual misconduct.  Participants also will learn about resources available to all community members. 

For more information on other events during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, go to the Title IX website.

— Susan Jones

 

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