Sexual Assault Awareness Month Kickoff Event
#SAAM2025
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 LINEUP
Activities and performances will take place throughout the event, including artistic expressions, music and dance performances from A Todo Folklore and Esperanza Dance Project, a live DJ and community presenters.
EVENT DETAILS
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 5:10 p.m. | Welcome, Katlyn Monje - director, SACASA |
| 5:15 p.m. | Introduction, Steve Patterson - chief safety officer, U of A |
| 5:20 p.m. | Performance, Esparanza Dance Project |
| 5:35 p.m. | Proclamation TBD |
| 5:45 p.m. | Community Speaker TBD |
| 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.
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.
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.
Proceeds from the 5K registration fee benefit 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).
SPONSORS #SAAM2025
