Students had the opportunity to dress up, dance, and educate themselves on sexual assault prevention at a soiree put on by Loyola’s Student Government Association.
SGA’s Assembly for Sexual Assault and Prevention banded together to create a night to honor those who have survivors of sex related violence, according to assembly chair, Kalena Myers.
The soiree gave students and survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence the chance to feel welcomed and heard.
“The opportunity to feel not alone, it’s so important,” psychology senior Breanna Crain said.
This type of event was one Myers said they felt was needed at Loyola, whether the community realizes it or not.
Myers said she hopes this soiree will become an annual event.
“I think, especially with Loyola being as diverse as it is, um it’s really important to one, address those issues and two, build up the community and to support each other,” Myers said.
But the event wasn’t exclusive to Loyola. The committee partnered with Dillard University’s Healing Women organization and Loyola’s counseling center, both of which had speakers at the event, to show this awareness.
Assistant Director of the University Counseling Center Ash Bayer spoke at the event and said events that educate one another on sexual awareness are essential to fight for prevention.
“We can unlearn harmful ideas, educate ourselves, and hold each other accountable to be the people we all aspire to be,” Bayer said.
In previous years, the committee focused on handing Title IX cases and increasing awareness for sexual assault and domestic violence on campus through posters. This year, however, Myers said they wanted to do something different.
“This year, we’re really moving forward with events like this and I think it was really a success,” Myers said.
