If you haven't been living under a rock, then you have seen that there has been a big push for sexual assault campaigns on college campuses lately. This is because April is national Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM)! Across the country, from the University of Texas' “Not On My Campus" movement to the University of Minnesota's “No Gray" movement, you will find students that have been working together to bring sexual assault and relationship violence to light in order to increase awareness and encourage victims to seek help. This Wednesday, April 22nd, the women of the Alpha Lambda chapter of Alpha Chi Omega are encouraging you to join them as they shed light on domestic violence!
Lyre Lights, a new philanthropy event created by the beautiful Brittney Fenimore, will be held at Coffman Memorial Union on April 22nd from 8:30pm to 10:00pm. The entire pathway of Coffman will be illuminated with lights as you walk into this event and pay $5, or $4 if you follow @axoumn on Instagram. You will receive a glow stick and a ticket for shaved ice. With your glow stick, you will be able to walk around this alluring, illuminated wonderland and socialize with the wonderful women of Alpha Chi Omega (including me)! We offer you to take a stroll through and read the various stories and statistics we have provided in order to increase awareness surrounding the severities of domestic violence and how commonplace it is in our culture today. In order to physically shed light on the subject of domestic violence, you may leave your glow stick on the path to symbolize that you are leaving some of your light for those who may need it.
Afterwards, you may grab some shaved ice and socialize under then beautiful pathway of lights! (Great picture opps, am I right?) All proceeds from this night will go toward this country's first women's shelter for those experiencing domestic violence, Women's Advocates! Women's Advocates was founded right here in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Women and their children are able to go to this shelter in order to escape the physical and mental violence associated with domestic violence. A representative from Women's Advocates will be present during this event in order to help form a deeper understanding on what exactly they do. The Aurora Center will also be present at this event to help participants obtain resources pertaining to sexual assault and domestic violence right here on campus.
Please come and stop by Alpha Chi Omega's event, even for 2 seconds, in order to support the cause and get involved with national Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM)! It will be a great event to meet some great Alpha Chis, increase your and other's awareness of the dangers of sexual assault and domestic violence, as well as be with the entire Greek community on a beautiful night. Please RSVP to the event on Facebook and look at the beautiful shirts that you may also buy to wear to the event. Dogs are welcome, too, especially puppies! Bring your friends, family, neighbors, etc. It is going to be a great night and I can't wait to see you all there. :~)