On May 30, the SFCC Associated Student Government is hosting a charity run to support the Spokane YWCA, and raise awareness of sexual assault and domestic violence.
The event’s Facebook page states: “This on campus run/walk will be about 3 miles in length. The cost is 10 dollars. Half of the proceeds will benefit our local YWCA.
The YWCA of Spokane is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.
Sign up forms can also be found in the Student Government office as well as the cashier’s office.”
Wednesday Basset, the Outreach Programmer for the ASG, designed the event to be both fun for those involved and to give to a good cause.
“I know that a lot of people around Spokane really enjoy runs or walks, and they are pretty popular right now with [things like] the dirty dash, color run, et cetera,” Basset said. “I thought why not do a run and donate the proceeds to somewhere local that is making a difference.”
Between 2010 and 2012, two cases of sexual assault were reported on campus. According to the Spokane Falls Community College website, 55.2 percent of all students are female. In a study done by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2003, 9 out of 10 victims were female.
RAINN.org, the nations largest anti-sexual assault organization, states that 80 percent of victims are under the age of 30, 68 percent of sexual assaults are not reported to police and 98 percent of offenders will “never spend a day in jail or prison.”
“Paying attention to our surroundings and not turn a blind eye to assault and abuse,” she said.
“We need to speak up, and take action in the safest way possible for those involved and stop victim shaming.”