Domestic Violence

American University is dedicated to support the Denim Day initiative as there is no excuse and never an invitation to rape, and this year we will also be hosting a clothing drive during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Women's and children's clothing will be collected and given to a local charity. Please drop off your donations at the Wellness Center (McCabe Hall) or at the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally Resource Center (201 MGC) between 9:00am-5:00pm. Clothes will be collected through Wednesday, April 30, 2008.

Take Back the Night is an international rally and march that is organized with the purpose of unifying women, men, and children in an awareness of sexual and relationship violence. Please join us at 8pm in front of Hughes Hall for the march through campus. Afterwards, we will meet in Kay Spiritual Life Center for a candle light vigil and testimonials from survivors. We have the POWER, we have the MIGHT, and we have the VOICES to TAKE BACK THE NIGHT. Please contact Colleen Smith at AUTakeBackTheNight@gmail.com with any questions or if you'd like to give a testimonial.

The White Ribbon Campaign is the largest effort in the world of men working to end violence against women. Wearing a white ribbon is a personal pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women and girls.

Women's Initiative will be distributing white ribbons as part of our "White Ribbon Blizzard" on Monday, April 7. Swing by our office in MGC-262 to pick one up or look for representatives handing them out on the Quad and help be part of the solution. Also, make sure to wear your ribbon to Take Back the Night on April 8 at 8pm.

For every click on the Click to Empower button at www.clicktoempower.com, The Allstate Foundation will donate $1 to the the Education and Job Training Fund. This Fund provides critical financial support for job training and educational opportunities for survivors of domestic violence pursuing their career and education goals.

The Allstate Foundation has committed up to $300,000 for effort. We are a third of the way there, but we need you help to reach our goal! Make sure to click every day!

The Clothesline Project is a visual display that bears witness to violence against women. Join us for a t-shirt making session, and use your creativity to speak out against the violence on Tuesday April 1 at 5pm in MGC 203. Materials to create the t-shirts will be provided. The t-shirts will be hung in the lobby of MGC. For more information contact the Wellness Center at 202-885-3276. This event is sponsored by Women's Initiative, Student Government, and The Student Health Center/Wellness Center.

Not on the cast of the Vagina Monologues but still have something to say? Come join Amnesty International and the cast of the Vagina Monologues on Tuesday February 26 at 9pm in the Davenport Coffee Lounge for a night of poetry, spoken word and music! Featuring award-winning women's rights poet Michelle Sewell. Bring all your empowered poetry, prose, and music and make the world hear you! Tea, coffee and cookies will be served. For more information, email wi@ausg.org

The Clothesline Project is a visual display that bears witness to violence against women. Join us for a t-shirt making session, and use your creativity to speak out against the violence. Monday February 25, 2008 at 5pm in the Wellness Center (McCabe Hall). Materials to create the t-shirts will be provided. For more information contact the Wellness Center at 202-885-3276. This event is sponsored by Women's Initiative, Student Government, RHA, and The Student Health Center/Wellness Center.

Want to help plan this year's march against sexual violence? Interested in helping us break the silence? Please attend our volunteer meeting on Sunday at 9:30pm in MGC-200 to get more information and to get involved with this great event. Take Back the Night 2008 will be Tuesday, April 8. Contact Colleen Smith at colleen.smith@american.edu for more information.

There will be a Take Back the Night Volunteer Information and Planning Meeting tonight, Tuesday, October 9th, at 8:00pm in the SIS Lounge. All are welcome, so please stop by and give us your ideas to make this campus tradition even better.

We Have the Power, We Have the Might, We Have the Voices to TAKE BACK THE NIGHT!

Contact Colleen Smith at AUTakeBacktheNight@gmail.com with any questions or concerns.