April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Cal State San Bernardino will host events to call attention to how widespread sexual violence is, highlighted by the art exhibit, “What Were You Wearing?”, which will be on display from April 21-25 at the Santos Manuel Student Union North.

“The Road to Healing: Finding Beauty in the Uncertainty” workshop will take place in person beginning at noon on Wednesday, April 9, in the Alumni Center, as well as through Zoom. Arlinda Wilson, a survivor specialist with the university’s Counseling and Psychological Services, will be the presenter. The event “will focus on increasing compassion, patience, and trauma responsiveness” to help survivors of sexual violence in their healing process. Register on the Counseling and Psychological Services workshop webpage.

What Were You Wearing exhibit flyer

The highlight of the month will be the traveling art exhibit, “What Were You Wearing?” An opening reception will take place at 10 a.m. Monday, April 21, on the second floor of the Santos Manuel Student Union North.

On display through April 25, the exhibit is dedicated to survivors taking a stand against victim-blaming and assuring survivors that they are seen. Included in the exhibit are clothing replicas that align with survivor stories. “What Were You Wearing?” was inspired by Mary Simmerling’s poem, “What I Was Wearing,” and was developed by Jen Brockman and Mary Wyandt-Hiebert, who are both sexual and domestic violence survivor advocates.

“Take Back the Night” will be the focus on April 23. Beginning at noon (Coyote Hour), the Women’s Resource Center will host a poster making session in support of the event.

Starting at 4 p.m. that same day at Santos Manuel Student Union North, “Take Back the Night” will feature guest speakers, including a survivor, campus advocates and CSUSB Police Chief John Guttierez. Community resource agencies will be on hand to share the services they have to offer, and there will be a march around campus.

Take Back the Night event flyer