Sexual Assault Awareness

Wildcats Roar Against Sexual Violence
5K Run/Walk/Roll and Resource Fair

Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Kickoff Event

An evening of community, empowerment, education and action to show your support in the fight against sexual violence.

  • Wednesday, April 2, 2025
  • 5 - 8 p.m.
  • U of A Mall, near Old Main

EVENT HOSTS  #SAAM2025

 EVENT LINEUP

 

5 - 8 p.m.

 

Resource Fair 

Empower yourself with information, education and resources provided by a broad array of university and community organizations dedicated to healing and positive change. Sponsored by Take Back the Night Tucson. 


6:00 p.m.

 

Wildcats Roar Against Sexual Violence 
5K Run/Walk/Roll

Participate in this fun, untimed glow run at your own pace. Register individually or as a team for $5 off. Check in from 5 - 5:45 p.m. All are welcome to cheer on the participants and help light up the night!

Benefits University of Arizona Campus Health Survivor Support Services.

Details and Registration


6:50 p.m.

 

Survivor Speakout

Listen and offer support for survivors of sexual violence as they share their stories during the Survivor Speakout.


7:30 p.m.

 

Candlelight Vigil 

Close the evening with a candlelight vigil and poetry.

 

 

Event map with parking and 5K route

Light up the night with fellow advocates

Hear from community speakers including:

  • Mayor Regina Romero
  • Pima County Attorney Laura Conover
  • Tucson Police Department Assistant Chief Diana Duffy

 

EVENT DETAILS

Times are subject to change.

TimeEvent
5:10 p.m.Welcome, SACASA Director Katlyn Monje
5:15 p.m.

Introduction:

U of A Chief Safety Officer Steve Patterson

ASUA President Adriana Grijalva 

5:20 p.m.Performance, Esparanza Dance Project
5:35 p.m.Proclamation: Mayor Regina Romero
5:45 p.m.

Speakers: 

Pima County Attorney Laura Conover

Tucson Police Department Assistant Chief Diana Duffy

6 p.m.5K Run/Walk/Roll begins
6:35 p.m.Performance, A Todo Folklore
6:50 p.m.Survivor Speakout
7:30 p.m.Closing and Candlelight Vigil

The Resource Fair, performances and activities will take place at the west end of the U of A Mall, close to Old Main, USS Arizona Memorial and the Student Union. 

The 5K start and finish line is near Cork and Craft, located in the Student Union on the north side of the U of A Mall. The route will circle the mall, entirely on pavement.

Event map with parking and 5K route.

Attendees are encouraged to walk, carpool or bicycle. Free bike racks are located around the U of A Mall.

Paid parking is available in both the Cherry Avenue Garage (1641 E. Enke) and Second Street Garage (1340 E. 2nd) for $1/hour after 5 p.m.

Surface lots 4057, 4144, 4164 and 4052, located near the U of A Mall, are free after 5 p.m.

Event map with parking and 5K route.

With questions about access or to request any disability-related accommodations for this event such as ASL interpreting, closed-captioning or wheelchair access, please contact Kirsten Rushkin, krath@arizona.edu

The 5K start and finish line is near Cork and Craft, located in the Student Union on the north side of the U of A Mall. The route will circle the mall, entirely on pavement.

Public and accessible restrooms are available in the Student Union and the Main Library. Restroom locations.

The resource fair, survivor speakout and candlelight vigil are FREE and open to all. All are welcome to cheer on the 5K participants.

The 5K is a benefit for Survivor Support Services at the U of A. Details and registration

This information available from National Sexual Violence Resource Center.

Sexual violence is an umbrella term that includes any type of unwanted sexual contact — including sexual abuse, assault, and harassment.

Forms of sexual violence include:

  • Rape or sexual assault
  • Sexual harassment
  • Sexual abuse
  • Unwanted sexual contact/touching
  • Sexual exploitation and trafficking,
  • Exposing one’s genitals or naked body to others without consent,
  • Nonconsensual image sharing and/or coercion (including AI-generated imagery) 
  • Words and actions of a sexual nature against a person’s will and without their consent

Statistics show:

  • Over 53% of women and over 29% of men reported experiencing contact sexual violence  (Chen, et al., 2023).
  • More than 1 and 4 non-Hispanic Black women (29%) in the United States were raped in their lifetime (Basile et al., 2022).
  • 1 in 3 Hispanic women (34.8%) reported unwanted sexual contact in their lifetime (Basile et al., 2022).
  • More than 4 in 5 American Indian and Alaska Native women (84.3%) have experienced violence in their lifetime (Rosay, 2016).
  • 32.9% of adults with intellectual disabilities have experienced sexual violence (Tomsa et al., 2021).

Victim Resources (U of A)

Survivor Handbook and other resources (SACASA)

Survivor Support Services (U of A Campus Health)

Survivor Support Counseling (U of A Campus Health / Survivor Support Services)

If you are unable to participate in the 5K but are interested in making a donation to Survivor Support Services, please donate using the Counseling and Psych Services page on the University of Arizona Foundation website.

 


 

VOLUNTEER

Are you interested in volunteering at this event?

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SPONSORSHIP / TABLING 

Are you interested in sponsorship or tabling at the fair?

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