RAINN or shine

On Sept. 27 at 11 a.m., a couple dozen students, faculty and staff members convened in Founder’s Plaza for Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network  Day.

In efforts to raise awareness of sexual violence on college campuses across the country, the group marched around campus, weaving through the Student Union & Library and Gyte buildings, with umbrellas covered in paper hand cut-outs and signs with phrases reading, “I did not deserve it”, “Real men take no for an answer” and simply “No.”

Freshman Papa Otoo did not know of the march until his soccer coach urged him and his teammates to attend and support the effort.

“It’s for a good cause, so I am all for it,” Otoo said.

The march was sponsored by the Counseling Center, Student Health Services, the Office of Equity and Diversity, Housing and Residential Education, the Dean of Students, the Purdue University Police Department and International Honor Society in Psychology Psi Chi.

Senior Annie DeRolf, vice president of Psi Chi, explained why Psi Chi was involved.

“Psi Chi was asked by the Counseling Center to help raise awareness for sexual violence on campus and we thought that was a really great thing to help out with,” DeRolf said.

Psi Chi President Mandi Kozlowski was at the head of the march, encouraging individuals to join the marchers. Kozlowski said she felt the purpose of RAINN Day was significant.

“Raising awareness for sexual abuse on college campuses is very important. It provides a safe environment for everybody to get a college education, and it’s not only for college campuses, it’s for across the country,” Kozlowski said.

At the end of the march, everyone re-gathered in Founder’s Plaza to conclude RAINN Day activities. As one of the few speakers at the event, Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Sarah Howard briefly spoke of the importance of raising awareness of sexual violence and expressed her hope that next year’s RAINN Day turnout will fill Founder’s Plaza.