Wednesday, April 24, 2024
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Reflecting on Sexual Assault Awareness Month
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Feature by: Cassandre Beccai, Director of Equity and Compliance and Title IX Coordinator
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In 2001, April was designated as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) building on a legacy of advocacy and activism dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These foundational efforts were led by the work of Black feminists like Ida B. Wells, who not only combated racialized violence but also the intersecting oppressions of sexual assault. By the 1970s, spurred by activists who organized activities in support of survivors, collective consciousness about the prevalence of sexual violence rose to a national level. This advocacy ultimately led to the establishment of SAAM as it is known today—a movement promoting sexual assault awareness and prevention and urging individuals and institutions alike to protest sexual violence in all its forms.
Within our college community, SAAM holds importance as it aligns with our commitment to student success. Recognizing that sexual violence poses a significant obstacle to education by addressing this issue directly is crucial. According to statistics from RAINN, 26.4% of female and 6.8% of male undergraduate students have experienced sexual assault. Factors like the “Red Zone,” a period between mid-August and November marked by heightened activities and increased risk of assault along with the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, increase risks for our students.
Sexual assault disproportionately impacts marginalized communities, including the LGBTQ+ community, individuals with disabilities, and first-generation students, who often encounter more risks and obstacles in seeking redress for sexual violence. Startling statistics amongst these groups emphasize the importance of carefully considering policies, programs and strategies that are inclusive of the needs of the most vulnerable. Research by scholars like Chris Linder shed light on how societal structures and cultural norms play a role in perpetuating these disparities within higher education, advocating for intersectional approaches that address the combined effects of various forms of discrimination.
Read more.
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Blues Baseball Wins Bud Kight Memorial Series
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Whitman College recently hosted and won the 2024 Bud Kight Memorial Series at Borleske Stadium. The Blues won three of four games played against University of Redlands. Bud Kight ’52 was a member of the Whitman baseball team that won the 1952 Northwest Conference Championship and went on to establish the first baseball endowment at Whitman.
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Misinformation Talk on Thursday
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The Computer Science Department will host an interactive talk with misinformation expert Mike Caulfield on Thursday, April 25 at 7 p.m. in Olin Auditorium. Caulfield is the author of “Verified: How To Think Straight, Get Duped Less, and Make Better Decisions About What To Believe Online.” (Flyer attached.)
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Music Department Concerts This Weekend
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The Music Department will present two concerts this weekend at Chism Recital Hall in the Hall of Music. The Whitman Orchestra Spring Concert will take place on Friday, April 26 at 7 p.m. and will feature Concerto & Aria winner Irene Tsai ’24 on piano and original works by Composition and Visual Art students. (Flyer attached.) The Jazz Bands 1 & 2 Spring Concert will take place on Saturday, April 27 at 7 p.m. (Flyer attached.)
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The Geology Department will host a talk by Juan Carlos de Obeso, Distinguished Lecturer for the Mineralogical Society of America and Assistant Professor of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Utah, on Monday, April 29 at 10 a.m. in Olin 129. The talk, titled “Tortoise or Hare: Dissolution Rates of Plagioclase and Implications for Carbon Storage,” explores the carbon sequestration potential of basalt, which is common in our area. (Flyer attached.)
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Volunteers Needed for Friends Event
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The Whitman Friends Program will organize a carnival-style event for Friends volunteers to spend a day on Whitman campus with their elementary-school mentees. Volunteers are needed to help run booths, set up before the event and clean up afterward, on Thursday, May 2 from noon–2 p.m. on Ankeny Field. Volunteer spots are available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Flyer attached.)
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Recent Whitman graduate Ben Parker ’23 is currently enrolled at William & Mary where he is playing baseball in Division I for the first time. A recent article by the William & Mary athletics program follows his progress and continued success.
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Memorial Building, Room 205
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Open Forum: Assistant Vice President for Wellness Candidate
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Hunter Conservatory, Kimball Theatre
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Reid Side Lawn or Sherwood 114 (weather dependent)
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Hunter Conservatory, Kimball Theatre
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Penrose Library, Room 313
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Hall of Science, Room 138
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Would you like to share an event with campus? Submit the information to the Events Calendar.
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“Whitman Today” is produced by the Office of Communications and is emailed Monday through Friday to Whitman College staff, faculty and students.
All submissions are welcome! If you have accomplishments to celebrate, an event to publicize or other content to share with the Whitman community, email whitmantoday@whitman.edu. Submissions of 125 words or less are due by noon for the following day’s newsletter. Submissions may be edited and/or held for a later date according to space and editorial needs. Your submission also authorizes use on Whitman's social media unless otherwise specified.
Previous issues of Whitman Today are archived on our website.
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Find us on social media: @whitmancollege
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