Salisbury University students chose to live life in color on April 25 while supporting sexual assault awareness by participating in the color run that was held on campus.
The color run was hosted by SU's Department for Housing and Residence Life and took place in the Quad.
According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, every 92 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted.
Each year, Salisbury University Housing and Residence Life hosts a Sexual Assault Awareness week that both advocates against sexual assault and tries to bring awareness to the reality that sexual assault does occur on college campuses.
The events of the week work to educate about sexual assault and also try to put a stop to it.
The Residential Director of Manokin Residence Hall Diamond Brown played a large role in organizing the various events of the week, and she revealed that her investment in the week resided deeper than just holding an event.
“We’ve done different events for teaching people about what sexual assault is, putting forth efforts to fight back against it and create a community that is against it,” Brown said.
Though the sexual assault awareness week is annual, this was the first year that a color run was held as an event.
Last year, a 5k was held, but the goal this year was to make the event less competitive and more fun overall, while still having the participants run for the cause.
“They didn’t do a full 5k," Brown said. "The purpose of this was more so for the runners to get the colors on them, but we also wanted them to put in some type of work, so we had them run around the outside perimeter of the quad, and after each two laps they would get a different color.”
Students who participated were given a free T-shirt, Rita’s Italian Ice, pizza and of course a plethora of powdered paint.
A number of SU students came out to participate in the run and enjoyed their experience. The exciting new element of color drew people into the event but many were also eager to support sexual assault awareness as well.
Junior Chelsey Angu, who participated in the run, was very intrigued in the event for the cause and expressed her interest for the event as a whole.
“I like running, and Sexual Assault Awareness Week is something close to my heart," Angu said. "Color and running, [it] just sounded fun to combine the two to support the cause of sexual assault.”
For more information on sexual assault awareness, see: https://www.rainn.org/statistics
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, see the following resources that Salisbury has to offer:
Office of Institutional Equity: 410-543-6426
University Police Department: 410-543-6222
SU Counseling Center: 410-543-6070
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-4673
By LAURA AMRHEIN
Staff writer
Featured photo: Laura Amrhein image.