By Olivia Borgula

Dozens gathered on McKeldin Mall Monday evening for an event hosted by the University of Maryland Student Government Association to mark the end of sexual assault awareness month. 

In front of the fountain, director of SGA’s sexual misconduct prevention committee Aadhiti Vallatharasu set up a small table holding snacks, drink covers and roofie test strips. Vallatharasu, a junior government and politics and public policy major who spearheaded the event, spoke about the history and significance of sexual assault awareness month before passing out notecards, pens and plastic candles. 

The conversation about sexual assault does not only revolve around acts of sexual violence. Subtle comments and thinly-veiled misogyny are ingrained in our dialogue as young adults, Vallatharasu said. She said one of the ways to dismantle this culture is to spread awareness about behaviors that promote rape culture.

“It is incredibly difficult to work towards solutions for ending sexual violence when a lot of people aren’t aware of the process,” Vallatharasur said. “That’s why we concentrate our efforts to raise awareness during this time period. And that’s why we’re here today.”

Vallatharasu asked those in attendance to reflect on two questions about sexual assault prevention and write their answers on a notecard. She then asked attendees to place their candles in the fountain and their notecards along the side. 

“Every issue, no matter how systemic, there are things that we can do as individuals, and it might not solve the issue, but I look to it as a step forward,” she said.

Two Campus Advocates Respond and Educate to Stop Violence peer advocates at the University Health Center, Olivia Mezzullo and Kadijah Morales, attended the event. They work under CARE staff to support survivors of sexual assault. 

Mezzullo, a sophomore government and politics major, said Monday’s event was important because it provided a quieter space for reflection about sexual assault. 

“It’s really important to have a space to just be with each other, and talk about things in a casual context and just form connections, because that really is important to changing the campus culture,” she said. 

The small number of attendees on McKeldin Mall mainly consisted of SGA members, which Vallatharasu said is typical of smaller events like these. 

But Morales, a sophomore family science major, said it’s important that students attend these types of events. No matter someone’s education level, there is always value in listening to others’ perspectives, she said.

Trevor Hennebery, a freshman government and politics and history major, also attended the event. As a member of the sexual misconduct prevention committee this year, he said he hopes to educate and spread more awareness about sexual assault.

“I’ve been working as hard as I can to educate myself on sexual assault, and how I can try to help stop that because as a man, they tend to be more of the perpetrators,” Henneberry said. “If you want to stop crime, you have to stop perpetrators from doing it.”

During sexual assault awareness month, which took place in April, SGA’s sexual misconduct prevention committee handed out drink covers and roofie test strips at bars, created informative flyers and encouraged resident assistants to educate their residents on sexual violence, Vallatharasu said. 

While the university has been receptive to conversations about sexual misconduct prevention, Vallatharasu said the issue of sexual misconduct on campus is far from over. One in five women in college experience sexual assault, according to the Office of Women’s Health. At this university, sexual misconduct rates spiked from 2021-2022, according to data from the Title IX office.  

“We have a lot of resources that are really great, like CARE, and so I’ve been so grateful to see those resources. I think it’s now more of a matter of getting students through them,” Vallatharasu said. “I know there’s a long ways to go, but I have definitely seen steps taken forward this year, which makes me optimistic of the future.”

Featured Image: SGA students release plastic candles into the water to signify the end of sexual assault awareness month. Photo by Olivia Borgula.