When most college students think of April, they tend to think of finals, spring weather and parties. But April showcases something more important that we cannot ignore as college students: Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM).
Not Just a Statistic
One in five women and one in 16 men experience sexual assault in college. That could be your roommate, lab partner or the person you sit next to in class. Among college students, nearly nine out of 10 victims of sexual assault and rape know their offender.
But this isn’t just about numbers. It’s about what’s happening in dorm rooms after parties, workplaces with power imbalances and in classrooms where survivors sit across from people who’ve hurt them.
It’s about someone pressuring you when you’re too drunk to say no. About hearing, “Don’t make it weird” when you speak up. About staying silent because you don’t want to “ruin someone’s life,” even when yours has already changed.
College culture often blurs lines. We celebrate party culture but rarely talk about alcohol-facilitated assault, which makes up the majority of college sexual assaults. We stress consent but don’t always teach what it really looks like.
What is SAAM?
April was recognized as SAAM officially in 2001, but its roots extend back to the 1970s when survivors began protesting and organizing rallies. These movements led to the first rape crisis center and the first “Take Back the Night” in 1978. Every April, people across the country wear teal, attend events and speak up to support survivors and demand change.
Take Back the Night is an international movement and annual event that stands against sexual assault and aims to raise awareness, promote prevention and support survivors.
On college campuses, SAAM isn’t just symbolic — it’s critical. College-aged students are among the most at risk for experiencing sexual violence, especially in the first few years of school. SAAM gives campuses a chance to pause the routine and face the reality of what’s happening in their own communities.
This Is Bigger Than One Month
SAAM isn’t just about awareness; it’s about action. It’s about shifting the culture, not just for a month, but for good. And that shift starts with us.
It starts in group chats, dorm lounges, Friday night pregames and Monday morning lectures. It starts when we stop brushing off harmful comments as “just jokes.” When we shut down peer pressure instead of staying silent. When we stop asking “What were they wearing?” and start asking “Why weren’t they respected?”
Changing the culture means believing survivors. Calling out harmful behavior — even when it’s uncomfortable. It means holding friends accountable, not covering for them. It means showing up, speaking out and refusing to stay quiet when silence protects harm.
Because the truth is culture doesn’t change on its own. We change it together.
If you’ve experienced assault, you are not alone. You deserve to be heard, believed and supported. Below are some resources that can help on campus and beyond:
CU-Bloomsburg Women’s Resource Center: 570-389-3933
Sexual Assault and Harassment Hotline: 877-995-5242
Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-SAFE
National Center for Victims of Crimes: 855-4VICTIM
