Key Club takes a stand on sexual assault awareness

Photo+via+Google+under+Creative+Commons+license.

Photo via Google under Creative Commons license.

Katie Savage and Jessica Abt

Baldwin’s Key Club has taken on the task of bringing attention to sexual assault issues through an awareness week that will run next Monday through Friday.

April is the national sexual assault awareness month, and the Key Club is doing its part to spread awareness in the school.

“This is something very real. It’s something that’s a reality of our world and I think that we don’t talk about it because it is uncomfortable and it’s a little taboo, but we need to let our young people know what they can do to keep themselves safe and what all falls under sexual abuse,” Key Club sponsor Caroline Babik said.

Club members will be selling candies outside the south cafeteria for prices ranging from a quarter to a dollar. All donations will go to AEquitas, which is a non-profit prosecutors’ resource dedicated to raising awareness and helping to get justice for victims.

“We plan on donating all proceeds towards raising awareness of sexual assault,” senior Jessica Murray said.

Students will have the opportunity to “Stand Up Against Sexual Assault” by tracing their feet onto posters outside of the cafeteria next week.

Club members also plan on raising awareness by posting statistics and quotes about sexual assault throughout the hallways. The quotes will also be read during announcements throughout the week.

Teachers will have the option to donate $5 to the cause and be allowed to wear jeans on Wednesday. All teachers participating will also be asked to wear a teal ribbon showing their support for victims.