One Billion Rising was an event held in the Center for Academic Success (CAS) First Floor Feb. 14, in response to the shocking statistics that state 1 in 3 women will be beaten or raped during their lifetime. On average, over one billion women on the planet experience abuse of some sort. Thus, One Billion Rising started on Valentine's Day in 2012 as a call to action against violence toward women.
This event was small but effective in its message. Representatives of the Center for Leadership and Service (CLS) stood at a table and informed students passing by about the shocking facts and statistics concerning violence against women. Students could also spin a trivia wheel to get a certain type of question that had facts about violence against women.
A special poster was created that showed differences in the preparations for dates. The poster showed how a girl would get ready for a first date and then how a boy would. From the poster, we can see that typically girls, when preparing for a date, tend to be considerably aware and anxious of not knowing the person they are going on the date with. The surveyed girls said they prepare by letting their friends know where they were going, sending them their location and being aware of their safety. The surveyed boys, however, worried about simpler things like hygiene and thinking of what to talk about.
One Billion Rising is a yearly campaign that started in response to the staggering number of women affected by abuse in the world. The event hosted by CLS gave students an opportunity to learn about the different laws put into place to defend and stand for women. One of these acts, Title IX was displayed at the table and states that "no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."
The Center for Leadership and Service is working to host a self-defense class for any person regardless of gender to come and learn how to defend themselves when in a dangerous situation. More information on the class is to come, feel free to contact the Center for Leadership and Service for updates at (908) 737-5170 or visit the Miron Student Center (MSC), Room 219.
