April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Sexual Assault Awareness Council began planning events for it as early as Fall 2015, council chair and assistant professor of criminal justice Amy Nemmetz said.

Several events have already taken place, including a Red My Lips event in which participants wore red lipstick to show support for sexual assault awareness, a Panty Pulping event in which underwear was transformed into paper art and an Are You Man Enough? panel discussion that attracted approximately 60 students.

The council also plans to distribute business cards and window clings featuring information about campus confidential and reporting resources available for people who have experienced sexual assault. A silent auction and dance fundraiser held on April 30 will conclude SAAM, but the council intends to hold events throughout the year.

“We didn’t want all sorts of [events] in April and nothing the rest of the time,” Nemmetz said. She also said that while “fun brings people in,” she thinks the events are a good combination of both awareness and fun.

The fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon is partnering with the council for an additional event called Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, which will be held in the fall. Carson Doney, junior mechanical engineering major and vice president of chapter development for Sigma Phi Epsilon, said he is excited for the event and also for breaking stereotypes about fraternities by encouraging members to participate. This event typically features men wearing red high heels to raise awareness, but Doney said it will be “definitely not exclusively for males. [It will be] open to anybody and everybody.” Doney also said Sigma Phi Epsilon plans to be in contact with the Doyle Center make sure that the event is handled appropriately.  See the April 21 Exponent for more information