Students from around the Grand Valley State University campus gathered outside the Kirkhof Center on the evening of Sept. 11 for the annual concert, Rock Against Rape. This was the 11th Rock Against Rape event held at GVSU. The event was put on by the student organizations Eyes Wide Open, Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and Sigma Kappa Sorority.

“This event is important because we try to raise awareness and educate students about sexual assault on campus,” said Trevor Wuori, president of Rock Against Rape. “It is such a prevalent issue.

“We used to do this event in the spring, but we switched to the fall for a number of reasons, one of them being that a large majority of assaults occur within the first six weeks of the fall semester. We’re trying to educate people at an earlier point and help lower the rate of sexual assaults on campus.”

The event featured two live bands, Drop 35 and Lucas Wilson, who performed throughout the night. The event also featured the slam poet Lacey Roop for the second year in a row. Roop reached through to the emotional side of the audience while informing GVSU students about sexual assault.

Lauren Beatie, Rock Against Rape vice president, is an avid fan of Roop.

“What’s great is she talks about love and how love in a relationship is between two people,” Beattie said. “We really try to use the idea of love in a relationship because sexual assault is not only for women but also for men. When we talk about a relationship and love and consent that’s between two people, it should be a loving experience.”

“When we have Lacey Roop talking about it she says it in such an amazing way and it’s so creative and she also puts it to music. Her poetry is so thoughtful, deep, real and really raw too. It’s something that everybody can really compare themselves to, so we love having her at these events.”

The GVSU police department has multiple options for students to ensure their safety and prevent sexual assault. One option is the Safewalk program available to students on the Allendale Campus from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. on a daily basis. Through Safewalk, students can be accompanied to and from their destination. Safewalk can be reached at (616) 331-3255.

Students are also welcome to use the RAVE Guardian app on their smartphones. In the app, students set a timer for the amount of time it will take them to get home. If they are not home by then, the police will be notified and their location can be monitored through the app. This service is available to students on all GVSU campuses. GVPD also offers rape aggression defense seminars for women.

If you are a victim of sexual assault, contact the police and victim advocacy at GVSU. To set up a meeting with the victim advocate, contact Ashley Schulte at (616) 331-2748 or email [email protected].