NEWS

NEWBERRY — Throughout April, Newberry College will host a series of events to raise awareness and provide resources to fight sexual assault and human trafficking. All events are open to the public and free, except where otherwise noted.

“College provides a unique time for education, engagement and transformation,” said Dr. Carrie Caudill, associate professor of psychology and event organizer. “When college students learn about the prevalent nature of sexual violence, their insight provokes action. Newberry College is committed to educating and fundraising for the prevention and treatment of sexual assault.”

Sexual assault makes up the greatest portion of on-campus crimes in the U.S., with 43%. That equates to approximately eight forcible sex offenses per 10,000 students, according to 2022 data compiled by the National Center for Education Statistics.

The events scheduled during Sexual Assault Awareness Month will provide support and advocacy for students, spread awareness of available resources, and spark conversations that educate and facilitate change.

On April 12, the college will host the inaugural Shedding Light on Human Trafficking & Exploitation Conference. The conference will cover every aspect of human trafficking and provide resources on how to recognize and deal with exploitation in a variety of circumstances, including law, business, social services, nonprofits and more.

The event is open to the public, with an emphasis on members of the social services, law, law enforcement, faith and allied nonprofit communities. The conference has been approved for six Continuing Education credits for law enforcement by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, and is seeking Continuing Legal Education credits. Spaces are limited, with a $150 individual registration fee. The registration deadline is April 4.

The conference is hosted by the Division of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, in partnership with the Muller Center, Stokes Trainor Chevrolet Buick GMC, Genesis Hub, Pope Parker & Jenkins, Newberry County, and the ERA Wilder Realty team of Tina Graham and Angela Reid. To learn more and register, visit newberry.edu/SheddingLight.

On April 18 at 4 p.m., the college will host its annual Walk Like a Wolf to benefit the nonprofit Pathways to Healing. Participants will walk a mile in support of survivors of sexual assault. The walk will begin at the Wolf Statue at the main campus entrance on College Street and end on the Campus Quad. Rebecca Lorick '02, executive director of Pathways to Healing, will deliver the keynote. To register, visit bit.ly/WolfWalk24. This event is sponsored by the Division of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences and Psi Chi.

On April 24 at 5 p.m., there will be a showing of the 2015 documentary “The Hunting Ground” at the Center for Teacher Education, 1121 Speers St. The film documents the incidence of sexual assault on university campuses and how administrators handle them. After the film, there will be a town hall discussion about the on- and off-campus resources available to Newberry College students.

For more information about Sexual Assault Awareness Month or resources on the Newberry College campus, please reach out to Caudill at Carrie.Caudill@newberry.edu.