Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access to host March for a Voice

LAWRENCE — As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access (IOA) will host the inaugural March for a Voice event at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, on the lawn in front of Stauffer-Flint Hall. The purpose of the event is to spread awareness about the prevalence of unreported sexual assault.

“Learning about sexual assault isn’t just for Sexual Assault Awareness Month,” said Jennifer Brooks, investigator and trainer for IOA. “Nearly 90 percent of all sexual assaults go unreported. Let’s help change that by marching for a voice and remembering the lessons from this awareness month all year.”

IOA encourages any member of the KU and Lawrence communities to join in a march for those who have experienced unreported sexual assault. At the event, participants can climb into the Consent Ball Pit to learn what is and isn’t consent. Materials will be provided to make signs and pins for the march. Free snacks will also be offered from 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.

At 6:15 p.m., participants will march from the Stauffer-Flint lawn to the Kansas Memorial Union to show support for reporting sexual assault. The March for a Voice event will take place an hour before the Sex Ed Boot Camp in the Union’s Woodruff Auditorium. Participants will have reserved seats and are encouraged to stay and attend the presentation.

IOA would like the community to know there are many ways to report a sexual assault. A person may go online and submit a complaint through the IOA webpage or call IOA at 785-864-6414 to make a report. An individual can also come to IOA’s office in 153 Carruth O’Leary to file a complaint in person. When filing a complaint, the reporting party may choose to remain anonymous.

“By joining together this Wednesday, IOA hopes to provide a unified voice against sexual assault not only on our campus, but in all of our communities,” Brooks said.