Providence, R.I.--Members of the Providence College community and the public are invited to participate in the College's presentation of Project S.A.V.E., an annual series of programs devoted to sexual assault and violence education. This year's Project S.A.V.E. runs from September 27 to October 1 on campus.

The initiative features workshops, interactive programs, a resource fair, and several fund-raising activities. Funds will be donated to local agencies directly serving women affected by sexual and domestic violence.

Project S.A.V.E., now in its eighth year, is coordinated by the Office of Residence Life and co-sponsored by Campus Ministry, the Office of Safety and Security, and Women Will. Representatives of residence life, the Personal Counseling Center, and Campus Ministry will be at all major events to offer support and guidance to participants throughout the week.

"This week of events is an opportunity to provide education and awareness about this very serious issue and to demonstrate care and concern for one another," said Dr. Steven A. Sears, dean of residence life.

"Sexual assault is a serious, violent crime that has no place in any society, and is unjustifiable in a community built on mutual trust," added Sears. "The Office of Residence Life is committed to building a civil community where mutual respect extends to all student encounters and relationships, and it expects students residing within our halls to contribute to achieving this goal."
 
Project S.A.V.E. activities began on Sunday, September 27, with the celebration of a late-night Mass for the College community, followed by The Midnight Mile. The top runners in this annual S.A.V.E. Week fund-raiser are awarded prizes.
 
The rest of the week's schedule is as follows:

Monday, September 28

• Stand Up!, 7:00 p.m., Aquinas Lounge
  Keith Labelle and Jennifer Longa-Moio of the University of Rhode Island's Violence Prevention & Advocacy Services will lead an interactive discussion highlighting how violence against women affects all of us. 

Tuesday, September 29

• Healthy Relationships Resource Fair with Love Ferns, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Raymond Hall Circle
  The fair will offer valuable information from on- and off-campus resources. Representatives include the College's Office of Safety and Security, the Women's Studies Program, the Personal Counseling Center, and Women Will, as well as community agencies such as Sojourner House, Simply Healthy, Day One, and the Women's Center of Rhode Island. There will be free potted ferns for early fair-goers.
• Rated 'R' for Respect, 7:00 p.m., Aquinas Lounge
  Sexual assault workshop presenter Keith Labelle will return to lead a discussion on masculinity, how men are treated, and how society expects them to act. Discussion also will include how violence permeates society in the degradation of women through advertisements, movies, television shows, and video games. This event is for males only.

Wednesday, September 30

• Self-Defense Workshops, 6:00 p.m. (males) & 7:00 p.m. (females), Aquinas Lounge
  Attendees are encouraged to learn basic self-defense strategies from Jarrod Tillinghast, an experienced professional boxer (males), and Sergeants Raymond Jarvis and Guy DeAngelis from the Office of Safety and Security (females).
• V.A.S.E. Victim Advocacy and Support Educator, 8:00 p.m., Slavin Soft Lounge
  Join Kendra Marasco, a sexual assault educator and PC faculty member, in discussing this issue as it pertains to the campus and beyond.

Thursday, October 1

• Healing Fire, 9:30 p.m. (after Mass), St. Dominic Chapel Grotto
  Join the community in a symbolic evening of healing and support. Participants will have the opportunity to share experiences and cast their fears and worries into a live healing fire.

Ongoing weekly events
The following events will be taking place throughout the week in Raymond Hall:

• Clothesline Project   
  The project is an installation and display of T-shirts from victims of sexual assault and is intended to illustrate the impact of sexual assault and violence in the community. Colored T-shirts reflect the type of violence experienced by victims.
• Silent Witness
  This installation and display of life-size silhouettes of domestic violence and sexual assault victims also will be displayed at the major Project S.A.V.E. events.

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