Launched in 2002, VOICE is Health Initiatives' sexual and relationship violence prevention and response initiative. VOICE provides support to victim-survivors of sexual violence and those supporting survivors as well as educates the campus community about healthy relationships and sexual violence. Every April during National Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) VOICE works diligently to increase public awareness about sexual violence through two signature events, Take Back the Night and Teal Ribbon Day.

Sexual violence affects people of all gender identities and compromises the safety and well-being of the entire Georgia Tech community. An estimated one in five women, and one in 17 men, experience sexual assault by the time they graduate from college. Health Initiatives along with the Women’s Resource Center developed these events throughout the month for the entire Georgia Tech community.

SAAM kicks off with the 25th annual Take Back the Night event on Monday, April 1 at 7pm at the Campanile (rain location: Student Center Theater). This candlelight vigil honors survivors of sexual and relationship violence. Students and staff will share stories of their experience with sexual or relationship violence, either through anonymous submissions or by reading about it at the vigil. VOICE advocate Jennifer Gagen of Health Initiatives shared that “Take Back the Night is a time of reflection and community to support survivors and listen to their stories. It’s a beautiful event that gives a voice to so many who often feel like theirs is lost.” All members of the Georgia Tech community are encouraged to attend in order to support and elevate the voices of survivors.

The month culminates with the annual Teal Ribbon Day on Thursday, April 11. Teal is the color of sexual violence awareness and Teal Ribbon Day is about embracing our voices to inspire action and create lasting change. Check out where you can find a teal ribbon on campus below:

• Faculty and staff check your Georgia Tech mailboxes early April for your teal ribbon.
• Students can find ribbons in Health Initiatives and the Women’s Resource Center or you can request them at voice@gatech.edu.
• Tabling session April 2nd on Skiles from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Tabling session April 9th in the Student Center Healthy Space from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Teal ribbon day tabling session April 11th in the Student Center Healthy Space from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  

 Help paint Georgia Tech teal by wearing these ribbons in support of survivors on Thursday, April 11th. “It is extremely powerful to show a unified display of support for survivors and advocacy for sexual violence prevention across campus,” said VOICE advocate Amanda Planchard of Health Initiatives. You can either join in a campus-wide group photo at the Georgia Tech Campanile at noon or wear a teal ribbon throughout the entire month and take a photo of yourself, your peers, friends, or colleagues. Send it to voice@health.gatech.edu so we can share on our Facebook page (Georgia Tech Health Initiatives). If you share your photo on Instagram make sure and tag Health Initiatives (Instagram: @GTHealthInitiatives).

You can learn more about VOICE and all of these events, by visiting healthinitiatives.gatech.edu/voice. Students who want to be involved throughout the year can join the student organization, People Against Unwanted Sexual Experiences (PAUSE) by emailing pause.GT@gmail.com.