During November, Chi Delta sorority organizes a full lineup of events aimed at raising awareness about sexual assault and educating students on consent and support for victims. Rather than concentrating their events into a short period of time, they intentionally stretched their activities throughout the entire month so their message can reach as many students as possible.
Several events have already taken place. The first event, called Consent Cookies, was held at the information desk from Nov. 3–7, which encouraged students to learn about consent. On Nov. 12, the sorority hosted the Consent is Kind carnival event at the Lakeside Coffee Shop. Later in the month, on Nov. 14–15, they held Support the Silenced at the Lakeside stage. They also organized an open mic night at the same location, providing students with an opportunity to express their experiences or support. The month will conclude with a trivia night on Nov. 24 in Heckman Auditorium, in collaboration with Delta Kappa Pi fraternity.
For many students, these events are more than just activities; they also serve as a reminder of how widespread the issue truly is. It reminds students of the importance of raising awareness in the first place. Junior Krista Hartley said, “Sexual assault affects so many different people. It can affect you, but it will also affect the people around you. A lot of the time, survivors will not be open about their assault. That is why it is so important to raise awareness. The vast majority of people know someone who has been a victim of sexual assault, even if they may not know it.” This point becomes especially urgent in a college setting. The message applies broadly, but the issue can still hit close to home at Doane as well.
Hartley continued, “If I had to say something, Doane specific it would be that most sexual assaults happen during college. If you see something, do something. It could be at a party or just walking to your room. Be an upstander and not a bystander.”
As the month wraps up, the message remains clear. Awareness is the first step, and it is an important one. Students play a direct and important role in shaping such conversations on campus. Small actions, checking in on friends or simply listening can make an impact in the lives of many. The goal is not for this conversation to end when November does, but to empower students to make a change for as long as they can.
Junior Laura Hasemann, Chi Delta service chair and main planner of the events, said, “The most rewarding part of No means November is seeing the fruits of the things we’ve been able to create through the events we’ve hosted, and the different collaborations we’ve had with people throughout the month. It’s really rewarding and fulfilling to see the direct impact we’ve been able to make. We hope others are empowered to speak out against sexual assault and raise awareness, too.”
