Sexual Violence Awareness Week (SVAW) took place at Notre Dame the week of October 29 through November 5. Organized and sponsored by the Gender Relations Center, the Gender Issues Committee, and many other campus groups, SVAW consisted of programming aimed at promoting awareness, solidarity, and prayer for victims and survivors of sexual violence and assault.

According to Elizabeth Moriarty, Assistant Director of the Gender Relations Center, SVA week “is intended to increase awareness of the fact that sexual violence, especially rape and sexual assault, affects members of the Notre Dame community,” in the hope that “we can completely eliminate it from our community.”

Senior Kathleen Rose, chair of Student Government’s Gender Issues Committee, adds that her goal for the week “was to get people thinking and talking about the issue. Hopefully every student on campus could see that we do have a problem on campus and that, even in the smallest of ways, he or she can stand against it.”

An event or program was held on every day of the week, beginning with the handing out of prayer and petition cards for victims of sexual violence following basilica Masses. On Monday, teal T-shirts were freely given out at various campus locations, to be worn for “Teal-Out Tuesday.”

“The t-shirt give aways and Teal-Out-Tuesday were our biggest events of the week,” Rose said.  “The goal behind the shirt this year was a call to action – each shirt said ‘question the status quo,’ and that’s exactly what we students need to do.”

On Tuesday night, held in conjunction with the Catholic feast day honoring All Saints, a Mass of Healing was celebrated by Fr. Robert Loughery, CSC, in Sorin Hall’s chapel. The Mass was very well-attended, and an opportunity to receive the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick was offered to anyone in need of spiritual, physical, or emotional healing. Additional resources, including prayer cards and information on campus support groups, were available after Mass.

Moriarty spoke to the success of this year’s Mass.

“The Mass of Healing was one of the most well-attended events,” she said. “Prayer is one of the primary means used for increasing awareness and concern about sexual violence and healing, and for a Christian community, gathering together can ease suffering through the comfort that comes when people realize that they are not alone.”

PILLARS, a student educational organization committed to the promotion and education of a safe and responsible college life-style organized “49 ½ First Dates.”  The event included a round of “speed dating” followed by a panel discussion, led by David G. Moss, interim director of the Gender Relations Center, which was fueled by students’ questions about dating, drinking, hook-ups, and relationships.

The week culminated in the annual “A Time to Heal” dinner.  Free and open to students and the public alike, the evening saw 320 guests in attendance. Moriarty considers the dinner to have been one of the most important events of the week.

“From year to year, this dinner features different combinations of students, faculty and staff speaking about healing and sexual violence,” she said.  “Meals are important times to share stories and hospitality, and this event is meant to spark honest conversation about a very difficult topic and embolden people to educate themselves and to speak out about the problem.”

Rose echoed Moriarty’s comments.

“It was a great forum for discussion in an unguarded and real way,” she said. “I believe you could see the strongest standing and coalition of students, community members, police officers, and faculty coming together to talk about the issue.”

Moriarty sees SVAW as a vital part of the battle to eliminate sexual violence on campus.

“This week is valuable due to the variety of activities and people involved, which draws more public attention to the problem,” she said.  “It’s also important for survivors to see evidence that they are not alone and are surrounded by a caring community.”

Rose agreed, stressing the importance of solidarity in the face of these deeply painful experiences. “If one member of our community is hurt then we all are – isn’t that what the Notre Dame community is about?”

Mike Bradley is a sophomore theology-philosophy major.  Along with fellow Dillonite Brian Burchett, he regrets missing the opportunity to LARP.  Contact him at mbradle6@nd.edu.