Sexual Assault Awareness Month starts soon

ANGOLA, Ind. — In conjunction with Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Trine University will host guest speakers, seminars and a Take Back the Night March and Rally in coming weeks.

“We want to give our students and community opportunities to learn how to develop healthy relationships,” said Randy White, Trine’s vice president for student life. “We also want to raise awareness about dating violence and sexual assault.”

Darlene Barriere, better known as “The Relationship Lady,” will speak to students March 31 at 4 and 7 p.m. in Fabiani Theatre about the communication difference between males and females, fundamentals of healthy relationships and the dynamics behind unhealthy relationships. Students who attend can receive free copies of her book, “Does Your Relationship Make the Grade: Strategies to Improve Your Dating Relationships and Avoid Date Rape.”

Barriere grew up in a violent and abusive home. As a teenager, she was sexually assaulted at knifepoint. She endured many additional hardships as a result of her home life and quit school at age 16.

Forensic nurse examiner Tena Dellaca-Hedrick from the Fort Wayne Forensic Nursing Specialties will lead a student discussion April 13 at 7 p.m. in Witmer Club House about “finding your voice” and recapping Barriere’s talk.

“We are very exited to have Tena come and lead this open-ended discussion to help our students develop and maintain healthy friendships and relationships, with emphasis also placed on appropriate ‘netiquette’ or online etiquette,” White said.

The community is welcome to join Trine for a Take Back the Night March and Rally Wednesday, April 6, beginning at 7 p.m. on the Best Hall north lawn. At 8 p.m., the group will march from Trine’s University Avenue to Monument Circle in Angola to demonstrate its unity in confronting sexual and domestic violence and violence against women and children. The 321 Summit Band also will perform. The evening will conclude with a candlelight vigil in support and in honor of victims’ rights. The event will remind everyone that all human beings have a right to be free from violence, to be heard, and to reclaim those rights if they have been violated.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month at Trine is sponsored by Trine University’s Bacchus, student senate and Sigma Phi Epsilon.