MARQUETTE, Mich.—The students of Northern Michigan University’s criminal justice community relations and crime prevention course (CJ 302) have put together four events to recognize April as national sexual assault awareness month.

This academic service learning project is titled, “It’s time to shatter the silence: Speak out against sexual assault.” The students are working with the Marquette Women’s Center.

The events, which are free and open to the public, include:

Tuesday, April 5: Wear Your Teal Day. Free informational pamphlets about sexual assault statistics and prevention, as well as teal-colored lapel ribbons, will be available at tables throughout the NMU campus and at the Westwood Mall. NMU students and Marquette area residents are encouraged to wear the ribbons or teal-colored apparel that day.

Wednesday, April 6: Gregg Milligan, a survivor of incest, will discuss sexual assault from a man’s perspective, 7 p.m., Jamrich Hall room 102.

Tuesday, April 12: Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, 6 p.m., starting at the NMU University Center. Participants should bring their own pair of high-heeled shoes. Free “Shatter the Silence” t-shirts will be given to walkers.

Sunday, April 17: Community Cookout, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Marquette Commons.

 “Our goal is to raise awareness of sexual violence and to encourage people to speak out against it,” said class member Sarah Pullano. “A lot of people don’t know how much sexual violence takes place in their communities, or that it has a significant impact on both women and men. Through these events, we hope to create a lot of discussion about the topic.”

For more information contact Pullano at spullano@nmu.edu or Robert Sbarboro at rsbarbor@nmu.edu.