The Associated Students University of Idaho discussed events in April for Sexual Assault Awareness Month and passed a resolution declaring November as Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month.
ASUI Director of Safety, Health and Wellness Sierra Brantz detailed multiple initiatives throughout the month of April to bring awareness to the issue of sexual assault.
The first awareness initiative is the clothesline project, which will take place April 23. Shirts will be distributed to residence halls, Greek housing and the multicultural center for survivors of sexual assault to write on. The shirts will then be displayed in the Idaho Student Union Building.
The second initiative will take place April 28 alongside Denim Day, a long-standing day of recognition for survivors of sexual assault. Blue paracord bracelets will be distributed in the ASUI lounge to help generate further awareness of the issue.
Awareness for men’s mental health was also a point of focus for the weekly meeting, with the passing of a new resolution.
The resolution, written by Sen. Dylanie Frazier and Sen. Peyton Loffer, states ASUI’s support for and declaration of November becoming Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month.
The bill describes men’s mental health as an issue commonly overlooked due to the gendered stigma attached to it. The awareness month would seek to bring attention to specific issues in the community such as “coping mechanisms, depression, anxiety, lack of motivation and sexual orientation.”
The decision is a change from June being the month of recognition, in line with Mental Health America. The shift was enacted to allow the student body to be made aware of the issue while class is in session.
The resolution passed without objection.
Royce McCandless can be reached at [email protected]u