Speaking out against sexual assault through Mudderella!
As many of you know, April is a very important month for advocates against sexual violence prevention. It’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month—a nationally-recognized initiative to draw attention to the fact that one in four women in our country will experience abuse in her lifetime.
Hi, my name is Juliette, and I’m a former FUTURES intern, a current student at Connecticut College, and a student advocate for sexual violence prevention. At Connecticut College, we use a program called Green Dot, which teaches students easy bystander intervention tools to intervene in potentially problematic or dangerous situations.
It’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month—a nationally-recognized initiative to draw attention to the fact that one in four women in our country will experience abuse in her lifetime.
In 2015, after talking to FUTURES about their incredible partnership with Mudderella, a group of Connecticut College students, staff, and alumni involved in the Green Dot program created a team. We had a blast creating team tank tops to wear for the race, as well as bracelets with our program’s social media information. Running Mudderella was a wonderful way to bond as a group, support the important work of FUTURES and spreading our message of campus sexual assault awareness. I’m proud to say that participating in Mudderella was one of the most exciting and meaningful experiences of my college career.
When I reflect back on my Mudderella experience, one part, in particular, resonates with me the most. Before the race began, the first group of Mudderellas gathered together for a warm-up. As we walked up to the starting point, FUTURES staff handed out bracelets of different colors. The warm-up leader explained that some runners received orange bracelets, but the majority received green. We were asked to raise our hands if we were wearing an orange bracelet; we represented the 25 percent of women—the one in four—who will be affected by sexual assault or domestic violence in our lifetime.
Running Mudderella was a wonderful way to bond as a group, support the important work of FUTURES and spreading our message of campus sexual assault awareness. I’m proud to say that participating in Mudderella was one of the most exciting and meaningful experiences of my college career.
The statistic is horrifying, but seeing the number of hands raised in the mass of people was unsettling and resonated with our team. It was an incredibly powerful moment that reminded everyone that we were not just doing this for ourselves, we were doing this for women everywhere.
Doing Mudderella alongside so many extraordinary women from different backgrounds was empowering, and a testament to the power, resiliency, and strength of women and girls. As a college student and an advocate, participating in Mudderella was the perfect avenue for staying active and engaging with these issues in a new and fun way, while meeting people with inspirational stories.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month presents an opportunity for each of us to make a positive impact however we can. I am proud to say I am part of a group of women that take action against injustice; that care about violence prevention and the eradication of intimate partner violence; that own their strong.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month presents an opportunity for each of us to make a positive impact however we can.
I look forward to conquering the New England obstacles with my team again this year and hope to see you in the mud!
Juliette Verrengia is a former FUTURES intern, student at Connecticut College, and student advocate for sexual violence prevention.
