April is dedicated to raising awareness about sexual violence, promoting prevention, and creating a culture of support for survivors. CARE offers students a safe and confidential environment to discuss their options for reporting, structuring for safety, or getting connected with academic accommodations.   

Per the Office for Civil Rights at Purdue, a sex offense is “any sexual act directed against another person, without the consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent.”  

• 1 in 5 women experience attempted or completed rape in their lifetime.   

• Nearly 25% of men experience some form of sexual violence.   

• Over 90% of reported rapes are committed by someone the victim knows.   
  (Source: NSVRC)   

  

Beyond our advocacy services, CARE works diligently with campus and community partners to try to create a Boilermaker community free of sexual violence.   

There are several events throughout the month of April to get students involved with our prevention efforts.   

• Creative Arts Show: Survivors and allies share artwork across all mediums to express their journeys and experiences.   

• Cover the Cruiser: Purdue Police, CARE, and the community cover a police cruiser with empowering notes to survivors.   
• Denim Day: On the last Wednesday of April, folks around the world wear denim to show their solidarity for survivors of sexual violence. This tradition began following a court case in Italy in the 1990s in which a sexual assault survivor lost her court case based on the fact that she was wearing skinny jeans at the time of her assault. The jury claimed that this meant she must have given consent as the jeans would have been too tight for someone else remove. This sparked outrage around the world, and people began wearing denim in protest and out of support of surviors.

•  Schedule a facilitation of “Boiler Up & Intervene” workshop for your organization or class. Click here to request a workshop.  

• Schedule a toolkit discussion night for our “Sexual Violence” Action Toolkit to educate your organization on what Boilermakers can do to support survivors and prevent sexual violence on and off campus. Click here to learn more about Action Toolkits.   

  

Remember, you or your loved ones are not alone. CARE is here to support you along your healing journey.