UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The first six weeks of a new academic year are often a busy and exciting time for students, filled with new freedoms, social connections and opportunities. During that same six weeks, first-year students also are at a greater risk of becoming targets for sexual violence.
“The first six weeks of the fall semester, also known as the ‘red zone,’ is a time in which incidents of sexual violence at college campuses spike across the nation,” said Erin Farley, programming coordinator in the Gender Equity Center. “Our goal at Penn State is to talk about the ways that we as a community can reduce the prevalence of sexual violence and encourage students to look out for one another. It is also an important time to have conversations about sexual consent and the role alcohol plays.”
On Wednesday, Aug. 30, the Gender Equity Center, along with fellow Student Affairs units Health Promotion and Wellness and Stand for State, will host “Turning the Red Zone Green,” an interactive event in the HUB-Robeson Center designed to prevent sexual violence through outreach and education.
During the event, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., participants will have an opportunity to speak with representatives from a number of campus organizations by visiting guided stations. Participants will learn about unique programs and resources available to them, as well as the significance of their actions in helping to prevent sexual violence.
“Stand for State’s approach to preventing sexual and dating violence is simple,” said Betsy VanNoy, program coordinator for Stand for State. “Imagine a map of our campus where acts of violence are represented as red dots, and green dots represent moments when people speak up to prevent violence. Our goal is to make the green dots outnumber the red dots and ensure that less people get hurt.”
After visiting each guided station at the “Turning the Red Zone Green” event, participants will have an opportunity to literally turn Penn State green by throwing darts at red balloons filled with green color. The hope is that the visual, while fun, will also serve as a reminder of the information learned during the event, and help participants transition into the first six weeks of the semester and beyond.
The event is open to all students, faculty, staff and members of the Penn State community. Participants are encouraged to visit at any time during the four-hour event to begin the quest of turning the red zone green.