SIUE Launches Consent Awareness Week with “Break the Ice with Consent” Event

SIUE Launches Consent Awareness Week with "Break the Ice with Consent" Event

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville kicked off National Consent Awareness Week with its first-ever "Break the Ice with Consent" event on Wednesday, Sept. 10, in the Stratton Quad. Hosted by the Office of Equal Opportunity, Access & Title IX Coordination (EOA), the event featured free shave ice from Edwardsville-owned Mahalo Shave Ice, interactive peer-led discussions on consent, and campus and community resources.

Students came out on the sunny day to interact with one another, pick up quick-education resources and enjoy the refreshingly cool treats from Mahalo. It was a perfect pairing as "Mahalo" is a Hawaiian word expressing thanks and gratitude, a fitting theme for the event.

The program was facilitated by a team of six social work practicum students, marking their first campus outreach initiative of the year. Community partners from Metro East Every Survivor Counts also joined the event, offering resources and information to students, faculty and staff.

National Consent Awareness Week, held annually during the third week of September, is a nationwide initiative designed to increase understanding of consent, prevent gender-based violence and support survivors.

"The timing of the week also coincides with the 'Red Zone,' the high-risk period at the start of the academic year when sexual assault on university campuses often increases," said Melissa Bigtas, MSW, LCSW, associate director and deputy Title IX coordinator for education and outreach at SIUE. "We have worked to offer outreach events back-to-back in the following weeks to facilitate and normalize peer-to-peer discussion and attention on consent in our campus community."

Bigtas added that the practicum model is central to the work with her belief in mentoring future social workers.

"Everything we do is tied to the Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Act, which guides our work. I mentor students to value our relationships with campus and community partners, so they graduate knowing that no matter our role, we are more impactful when we work together. The power of change occurs when we bring people together with a shared vision."

"Break the Ice with Consent" is the first in a series of EOA outreach programs focused on normalizing conversations about consent and providing resources to the campus community. Next week's program, "Cookies and Consent," will continue the initiative.

PHOTOS: SIUE EOA Practicum Students and Metro East Every Survivor Counts tent, eager participants in the consent education with Mahalo Shave Ice treats.