'Week without Violence' begins Oct. 6

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UNL's "Week without Violence" will feature a series of events Oct. 6-19 designed to educate campus and community members and encourage individuals to take a stand against violence.

One in six women become victims of sexual assault and one in four men report experiences of intimate partner violence. Stalking, intimate partner violence and sexual assault affect people of all genders, races, sexual orientations and backgrounds.

The UNL Women's Center has coordinated Week Without Violence events for more than 14 years. The center collaborates with UNL and Lincoln groups to raise awareness of violence and its profoundly negative effects.

"The purpose of the Week without Violence is to empower all individuals in the UNL community to create a safer environment for everyone," said Jan Deeds, UNL associate director of student involvement and director of the Women's Center.

Events begin at 10 a.m. on Oct. 6 with "Walk a Mile in her Shoes," sponsored by Alpha Chi Omega. Participants will walk a mile around campus in high heels to raise awareness of rape, sexual assault and gendered violence. All are welcome to march. The march begins with speakers at the Alpha Chi Omega house, 716 N. 16th St.

Later on Oct. 6, all community members are invited to participate in "Slutwalk," a march to end the victim shame cycle. Slutwalk begins at 1 p.m. on the north side of the Nebraska Capitol, 1445 K St. Find Slutwalk Lincoln on Facebook for more information.

At 7:30 p.m. Oct. 8 in the Nebraska Union Auditorium, 1400 R St., Grace Brown will speak about "Project Unbreakable," her effort to empower survivors of sexual assault through photography. Victims/survivors interested in being photographed should email projectunbreakable@gmail.com with the subject line "photograph me."

At 7:30 p.m. Oct. 12, the documentary "The Pink Room" will be screened at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center, 313 N. 13th St. "The Pink Room" explores sex slavery and human trafficking in Cambodia. The documentary will be followed by a community discussion with executive producers Janey and Steve Shugart and a reception in the adjacent Van Brunt Visitor's Center. Free tickets will be available at the Ross counter prior to the film.

The Clothesline Project will be displayed Oct. 17-19 in the Rotunda Gallery in the Nebraska Union. The Clothesline Project is an art exhibit intended to raise awareness of the violence taking place in our community. T-shirts created by survivors of interpersonal violence will be displayed along with campus and community resources.

The Women's Center will also co-sponsor the Voices of Hope open house and candlelight vigil on Oct. 18 at 2545 N St. The Open House takes place 5:30-7:30 p.m., followed by a candlelight vigil at 7:30. Learn about Voices of Hope programs and services at the Open House and stay to commemorate the lives lost through relationship violence at the Candlelight Vigil.

Coinciding with the Week without Violence is "Women Call for Peace: Global Vistas," an exhibit at the Sheldon Museum of Art, 12th and R streets, on display through Jan. 13. The participants -- Christian, Muslim, Jewish, black, white and Asian -- advocate for global peace. Artists include Faith Ringgold, Betye Saar, Aminah Robinson and Helen Zughaib, who take a stand against conflict. For more information, visit http://www.sheldonartmuseum.org.

All Week Without Violence events are free and open to the public.

The UNL Week Without Violence is coordinated by the UNL Women's Center and co-sponsored by Voices of Hope, the Sheldon Museum of Art, and the following UNL departments and organizations: Women's and Gender Studies Program, Alpha Chi Omega, Sigma Psi Zeta, PREVENT, and Nebraska University Students Against Modern-Day Slavery.

For more information call the Women's Center at 402-472-2597.