The F.R.I.E.S. mixer, hosted by Students for Violence Prevention (SVP) on Wednesday, April 1 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Through Aladdin, SVP had a fry buffet available for everyone who came through, with several types of fries, seasonings, and sauces to try. As people came through, they were quizzed and taught about the F.R.I.E.S. acronym for consent. The acronym stands for freely given, reversible, informative, enthusiastic, and it can differ between specific or sober for the last letter.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness month. Sexual assault is a grave issue that, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, roughly one in five women and nearly a quarter of men have experienced in the U.S.
Kennadie Campbell is an elementary education and Spanish major, as well the president of both the Black Student Association and Students for Violence Prevention. She shared that during her first year at Pittsburg State University, she experienced sexual assault. However, she did not want to deal with the legal system and did not know how to report.
Campbell sought a support system for people on campus to help raise awareness for others who might find themselves in the same situation. “SVP was a place where I felt safe, and I knew that everybody there would keep me safe,” Campbell said. It was also “a place where I could turn that hurt and pain that I experienced in helping other people, so it doesn’t happen anymore,” Campbell continued.
Some people came to spread the word about Sexual Assault Awareness Month, while others like freshman family and consumer science education major Kylee Barlett just came to see some people she knew. “The event was good, and I got to see people I knew and meet new people,” Barlett said.
Tess Hargrove is a sophomore majoring in graphic communications with an emphasis in graphic design and was at the event as a member of SVP. For her, it was about supporting her organization and spending time with people. She believes that it is important to talk about these things and not leave them unsaid. “I feel like it’s important to talk about violence prevention and safety because at college, a lot of crazy stuff can go down, and sometimes people don’t want to talk about it,” Hargrove said. “When you talk about it, it pushes the narrative that we need this on campus and we need safety,” Hargrove finished.
One thing that is agreed upon by all the members of SVP is that it is a safe space for all who have experienced sexual violence or assault on campus. Through the events they host, they aim to spread awareness of safe sex, consent, and ways to help others who may have gone through or are going through this. They have connections across town and campus to help anyone asking for their help and encourage everyone, not just victims, to join and help spread the word.