Today, MTV and nearly 300 college campuses across the country are participating in RAINN Day 2013 — RAINN’s annual day of action. College-aged students are at the highest risk for sexual assault and RAINN Day reaches this important demographic, empowering students to educate their peers about sexual violence prevention and recovery. This year marks the 10th anniversary of RAINN Day, which has educated millions of college students since 2003.
Students will participate in events ranging from “speak-outs” to art projects to flash mobs. Student at Arkansas State University (ASU) will engage in a dialogue at the student union about risk reduction and the importance of recovery resources, like the National Sexual Assault Hotline. Almost 1,000 miles away from ASU, the Women's Initiative at American University (AU), in Washington, DC, is celebrating RAINN Day by hosting events all over campus — from information tables in residence halls to games on the main quad that will attract many different audiences.
"Having RAINN Day at AU is essential for a university that prides itself on the safety and well-being of its students,” said Hannah Sydnor-Greenberg, director of the Women’s Initiative and AU’s RAINN Day organizer. “RAINN Day promotes AU's message that sexual violence is intolerable on our campus and within our community. While RAINN Day supports AU's commitment to survivor empowerment and healing, it also brings awareness to our campus of certain aspects of sexual assault prevention that AU has shied away from. My hope is that RAINN Day will start a conversation within our community about how to better address sexual assault on our campus".
Social media is magnifying the impact of RAINN Day events off-campus. Using the Twitter hashtag #RAINNDAY, organizers and attendees will stay connected and spread the word about their events using social media. RAINN partners MTV Act and Unite Women are participating in RAINN Day via Facebook and Twitter, by encouraging their fans and followers to share their ideas on how students can take action on campus.
This year RAINN is partnering with MTV by hosting a multimedia contest to highlight the creative ways students are educating their peers. RAINN DAY organizers are encouraged to capture their event using social media, including video and photo sharing, to expand the impact of their event online. One lucky winner will be featured by MTV and RAINN.
“Making the fight against sexual violence a priority on campus and elsewhere is one of the most significant parts of RAINN Day,” said Megan Erhardt, spokesperson for RAINN. “Student activists all over the country are finding incredibly powerful and dynamic ways to get information about sexual violence to their peers.”
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #RAINNDAY. Stay in the loop on events and news tomorrow on Facebook (RAINN01) and Twitter (@RAINN).
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, you are not alone. Talk to someone who understands what you’re going through. Help is just a call or click away via RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800.656.HOPE and online.rainn.org.
About RAINN
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization and was named one of “America’s 100 Best Charities” by Worth magazine. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotlines (800.656.HOPE and online.rainn.org) in partnership with nearly 1,000 local rape crisis centers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. The hotlines have helped more than 1.9 million people since 1994. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice. For more information about RAINN, please visit rainn.org.