UNL 'Week without Violence' is Oct. 13-18

Studies show that one in five college women will be sexually assaulted, and up to 60 percent of male and female students experience an abusive dating relationship by high school graduation. The lifetime prevalence of sexual assault for men in the U.S. is one in 33. These forms of violence and what can be done to reduce their occurrence are the focus of "Week Without Violence" at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Oct. 13-18.

Week without Violence is a series of events that promotes awareness of various forms of violence that affect everybody. The events encourage all campus members to get involved and take a stand against violence. The UNL Women's Center has coordinated Week without Violence for more than 10 years, and collaborates with student organizations, academic and administrative departments, and community groups to develop a weeklong effort to stop violence. All events are free and open to the public.

"This week provides an opportunity for every individual on campus and in the community to find a role in violence prevention," said Jan Deeds, director of the Women's Center and assistant director of gender programs for the Office of Student Involvement.

In "Speak Out Against Violence" from noon to 2 p.m. Oct. 13 in the Union Square at Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., members of the UNL and Lincoln communities are invited to take a stand against all forms of violence. Participants can express their concerns about violence at UNL and in the rest of the world through song, poem, reading, or speech -- or show their support in the audience. Stop by the Women's Center, 340 Nebraska Union, or call (402) 472-2597 to sign up as a speaker.

A drop-in workshop for the "Clothesline Project" will be 2-6 p.m. Oct. 14 in the Women's Center. Participants will create a T-shirt that bears witness to their experience of violence. This activity, in a safe and supportive community, allows individuals to use art to express themselves.

"Sexpectations" will be 6:30-8 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Culture Center, 333 N. 14th St. "Sexpectations" is a workshop that explores what men and women expect from each other and how these expectations relate to relationship violence.

"Love Your Body Day" is Oct. 15 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Centennial Room of the Nebraska Union. Individuals can drop in for three activities exploring body image: reconstruct a Barbie or Ken doll in their image, have their photo taken in the life-size BarbMe/M.I. Joe box, and make a plaster cast of a part of their body. Participants should arrive early if they want to cast a larger part like a leg or arm. No casts will be started after 8:30 p.m.

A brown-bag discussion on "Native Women and the Healing Generations of the 21st Century" is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 16 in the Library Instruction Room of Love Library, 13th and R streets. Speakers Renee New Holy, a master's degree candidate in special education at UNL, and Alice Saunsoci, an Omaha native language instructor at the Nebraska Indian Community College in Macy, will discuss the historical trauma experienced by native women and approaches to healing that combine traditional and modern therapeutic methods.

Voices of Hope, a Lincoln agency that provides services to those who have experienced relationship violence, sexual assault and abuse, will host an open house at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 16 at 5:30 p.m. at 2545 N St. "Hope Speaks," a candlelight vigil that honors victims and survivors of domestic violence, will follow at 7:30. Those interested in attending can arrive at the Women's Center at 6 p.m. to walk to the open house or at 7 to walk over for the candlelight vigil.

"An Evening of Love, Rage, and Hope: 60 Years of Human Rights" will begin at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Loft at the Mill, 800 P St., Suite 301. There will be a reading of the United Nations' 1948 Declaration of Human Rights, which sets forth the rights needed for a peaceful and just world. There will also be a production of Elena Dodd's Meet Eleanor Roosevelt: A One-Woman Theater Piece, presented by the Angels Theater Co. The UNL Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Resource Center will have an information booth at this event.

For more information on Week without Violence events, visit http://si.unl.edu/womens_center/events.php.